A 71-year-old man was this morning arraigned in court charged with attempted violent indecent assault against his wife.

The man, whose name cannot be published by order of the court, was charged with attempted violent indecent assault with foreign objects of his 68-year-old wife and threatening to use violence against her or members of her family. The accused appeared before magistrate Joe Mifsud while the prosecution, led by inspectors John Spiteri and Hubert Cini, explained the charges.

It appears that the married couple were watching some pornographic footage on the television when the elderly man became inspired to repeat what he saw on the small screen onto his wife. The latter, would not play along. The case occurred on Tuesday evening and the police received reports only after the wife ran out of the house naked.

The couple have been married for more than 42 years and have two children.

Visibly angered by the way the case unfolded, the Magistrate said that being old does not mean the accused should be, in any way excused. "Domestic violence has no age. We should not hide the problems which occur behind closed doors at home. Domestic violence is only getting worse and should never be tolerated."

The man stood up and told the magistrate that he used to keep her well-fed and used to give her enough money.

"We are not in the middle ages. You don't show respect to your wife simply by giving her money. Do you realise what you did? Do you understand how humiliating it would have been to your wife?" the magistrate continued.

The prosecution also asked for a protection order to be issued for the wife while it suggested a treatment order to be issued for the man. The court confirmed the protection order for three years for the wife and treatment for the man. The elderly man was sentenced to a year in prison.    

Inspector John Spiteri and Hubert Cini led the prosecution while lawyer Francina Abela appeared for the accused.