A 62-year-old man pleaded not guilty to assaulting the St Benedict College headmaster after college officials confiscated his mobile phone from his grandson.

Before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Mikiel Curmi, from Birzebbuga, was charged with assaulting headmaster Joseph Micallef and saying obscene words in public on Tuesday afternoon.

The court heard how the school authorities confiscated the man’s mobile which was taken to school by the man’s grandson.

The matters allegedly got out of hand after the man asked for the mobile to be returned on Tuesday afternoon.

However, college rules stipulate that confiscated items may only be returned on the following day.

The magistrate granted him bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €500.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted while Dr Marion Camilleri was defence counsel to the accused.