An Eritrean man was yesterday given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to attempted indecent violent assault.

Gide Idris Mahder, 27, admitted to attempting to indecently and violently assault a Maltese woman on 17 March at 12.50am in Floriana.

Mahder, who resides at the Marsa open centre, also pleaded guilty to slightly injuring the woman and offending public morals.

The court, presided over by magistrate Miriam Hayman, gave the accused a six-month jail term suspended for one year. Police inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted while Dr Patrick Valentino appeared for the defence.