A homeless Algerian refugee was yesterday remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to scaring off a couple with a fake pistol, leading a vagrant life and threatening a police inspector.

Belkassa Abdelhamid, 51, pleaded not guilty to these charges as well as to threatening to injure the couple, knowingly harassing them and breaching the peace.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Silvio Meli, heard how Mr Abdelhamid, a refugee, used to live at the Good Shepherd Home. The nuns running the home told the police that he was a troublesome character with no inclination towards work. The police also learnt that Mr Abdelhamid had severed his ties with the Emigrants Commission. Although he was homeless, he used to be fed at the Marsa Open Centre.

The court also heard how on Tuesday in the early morning at Naxxar Road Birkirkara, Mr Abdelhamid started waving a fake pistol at a couple who were about to park their car in a garage. The frightened couple ran towards the Birkirkara police station where they informed the police. The Algerian was apprehended minutes later.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia, who led the prosecution, said the man threatened to report him to a minister who was a friend of his if he did not let him go. The inspector said in court that the Algerian had bought the toy with money given to him by an elderly woman.

Dr Patrick Valentino was appointed legal aid to Mr Abdelhamid.