A 48-year-old man from Gżira pleaded not guilty after being arraigned on charges of breaching a protection order and two sets of bail conditions.

The court heard the man and his estranged wife have two children, aged 10 and 11. A protection order had prohibited him from contacting her except in matters relating to their children.

However, Inspector Omar Zammit told the court that the accused allegedly sent his wife several messages unrelated to the children after discovering she was seeing someone else.

Among the messages, the man allegedly accused her of "breaking up the family" and used offensive language. He also allegedly warned her to keep the children away from her new partner.

The woman subsequently filed a police report alleging that the messages breached the protection order.

The accused was charged with breaching the protection order as well as two separate sets of bail conditions.

He pleaded not guilty.

The court granted the man bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000, with no deposit required. He was also ordered to sign the bail book every Monday and observe a curfew.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Omar Zammit. Defence lawyer Jacob Magri appeared for the accused.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were parte civile.