A 44-year-old man was jailed for a year yesterday after he was found guilty of attempting to injure another man.

Alfio Attard, from Santa Venera, was charged with attempting to injure Charles Ebejer without the intention of putting his life in danger at the Mosta bocci club on the night of 10 July 2006.

In handing down her judgment, magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said the court could not give the impression that Attard could carry or own weapons nonchalantly and also assault the police.

The court heard how Mr Ebejer was having a drink at the club, when Attard walked up to him and warned him that he was no laughing stock. Mr Ebejer told Attard that he did not know him, at which point he was slapped in the face.

Mr Ebejer went straight to the Mosta police station to report the incident and returned to the club in the company of a police officer.

At this point, Attard grabbed a knife that was lying on the bar counter, got hold of Mr Ebejer by the neck and threatened him.

When arrested, Attard put up a violent resistance to the police, so much so, that he had to be handcuffed in order to enter the police car and later a lock up.

Attard was also charged with breaching the peace, using obscene language in public, disobeying police orders and using an irregular weapon. He was found guilty to all charges pressed against him.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera said Attard had six other convictions, including two regarding illegal arms possession and evasion of duties as well as another one on illegally carrying a knife.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera said she was going to be heavy handed and inflicted a one year jail sentence and fined him e200 (Lm85.86).

Police Inspector Therese Sciberras prosecuted.