A 41-year-old Ukrainian man this morning was remanded in custody after being charged with trying to seriously injure a police sergeant when he allegedly kicked him in the head in a police car on Sunday evening.

Valerii Lysenko, who lives in St Paul's Bay, pleaded not guilty to trying to seriously injure PS Ivan Mifsud, slightly injuring him and assaulting him at about 7.30pm.

The incident happened yesterday evening at 7.30pm in Trunciera Street, St Paul’s Bay.

The police went on site after a man who was drunk was causing a disturbance. The officers tried to speak to the man who however refused to cooperate.

The 41-year-old Ukrainian man resisted arrest and, after being forced into the police car, at first tried to head butt one of the officers. The sergeant tried to intervene and it was at this moment that he was kicked in the head, the police said.

The police sergeant needed treatment at the Mosta health centre.

Police Inspector Godwin Scerri prosecuted.