Victor Camilleri, 40, pleaded guilty to damaging his friend’s front door after losing his temper at a wedding reception. He also admitted being drunk and disorderly and breaching the peace.

The court heard all the parties to the case explain that the argument came about as a result of the Camilleri taking offence at his friend during a wedding reception because he had imbibed one too many and had been told to behave himself.

Police inspector Kevin Farrugia told the court, presided over by magistrate Anthony Vella, that the accused then produced a hammer and launched an assault on Joseph and Marica Bonello’s front door on 17 June.

Insp. Farrugia said that Camilleri did have an alcohol problem and that the incident, was in fact, not a very serious one.

Magistrate Vella said the accused would benefit from the counselling of a probation officer to curb his drinking.

He also told the accused to learn a lesson from this episode and to deal with his problem. He was therefore placed on probation for two years and ordered to pay Lm100 in compensation to the Bonellos.

Dr Veronique Dalli and Dr Jose Herrera appeared for the accused.