A Norwegian man yesterday pleaded guilty to injuring three policemen and to causing damage to the furniture of a hotel which in his drunken state mistook for the one in which was he staying.

The court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, heard how Svein Espen Sorstad, 31, caused grievous injuries to a police sergeant and slight injuries to two constables after he caused some Lm200 in damages to the Westin Dragonara Resort, which he mistook for the Baystreet Hotel, in which he was staying. The incident happened on Tuesday night while the man was very drunk. Sorstad had already paid Lm200 at the St Julian’s police station.

He pleaded guilty to injuring the police, resisting arrest, damaging property, insulting a man, breaching the peace and being drunk in public in public.

The magistrate jailed him for six months suspended for a year.

Sorstad was in Malta to support his national football team. He appeared in court with his suitcases as he was flying back to Norway.

Police Inspectors Carlo Ellul and Martin Sammut prosecuted with Dr Beppe Fenech Adami appeared for the accused.