An 18-year-old man was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to assaulting and threatening his mother and siblings.

The man, who has anger management problems and is refusing to take medication for a medical condition he suffers from, was charged with insulting, threatening, assaulting his family members as well as to charges of harassing them and causing them to fear that violence will be used against them. 

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that the man, who has just turned 18, has appeared before her several times. She said the accused had already been put on three probation orders so he had been given chances. “There are social problems if someone loses it with his own mother," the magistrate said. 

A friend of the accused offered to let him live with him until the case was closed but did not know his own address when asked by the Magistrate. A request for bail was turned down.

The Magistrate also appointed a psychiatrist to assess the young man and issued a treatment order for his medical condition as well as a protection order for the mother and her young children. 

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri prosecuted. Lawyer Abigail Bugeja appeared for the young man. 

Names are not being published to protect the identity of the victims.