Joseph Cioffi, 36, of Xaghjra today was remanded in custody after he was charged with posing as a mechanic and defrauding a 76-year-old man.

He was also charged with approaching the victim and his family and threatening them.

It is understood that Mr Cioffi defrauded his ‘client’ the amount of €14,000 to ‘fix’ a faulty gear lever.

The accused had accepted to perform the repair job on the elderly man’s Skoda but the job was never performed, with the accused repeatedly telling his client that he needed more money to fund the repairs.

The prosecution opposed a request for bail, telling the magistrate that the accused had approached witnesses and threatened the victim at his home. The accused had several previous convictions, according to the prosecution.

The prosecution informed the court that after being arrested, the accused had attempted to slit his own throat and was eventually referred to Mount Carmel Hospital.

The hospital had failed to notify the police when he was released. Before the police were even aware that he was not being treated any more, the accused had not only approached the elderly victim but also threatened his family with police action.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke denied his request for bail.

Police Inspectors Raymond Aquilina and Christabelle Chetcuti prosecuted while lawyer Noel Bartolo appeared for the accused while lawyer Benjamin Valencia appeared parte civile.