Two security guards brought to Malta to provide security at an event in Ta' Qali have been handed suspended prison sentences after admitting to injuring a man and his partner while trying to kick them out of the concert. 

British nationals Daniel Adam Slatterly, 43, and Naveed Farooq, 38, were each sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for three years after pleading guilty to charges arising from the incident on 6 September.

Slatterly, who lives in Birmingham, and Farooq, who lives in Bradford, were arraigned under arrest on Wednesday, two days after the incident.
They were charged with voluntarily causing grievous bodily harm to a man, without intending to kill him or place his life in danger, and with slightly injuring his female partner.

The incident took place in Ta' Qali at around 11.20pm, while the two accused were working as security officers at a concert being held in the area.

The court heard that police received a report from the man and his partner following the incident. The two alleged victims had been intoxicated and were provoking the two men. 

The security guards cooperated with investigators and provided statements to police following their arrest.

They told investigators that they had been required to escort the man out of the premises and hand him over to the Maltese authorities. The injuries were sustained during the ensuing altercation as he was being escorted out.

The defence said the guards had described the man as "big" and argued that it was the alleged victims who had first provoked the security officers, prompting their reaction.

Police also confirmed in court that they had grounds to arrest the alleged victim.

The court heard that the two security officers had been brought to Malta from abroad specifically to assist with security at the event in Ta' Qali.

The prosecution said the men had been accompanying a VIP to the concert. The defence, however, disputed this account, saying it had not been informed of any such circumstances. Instead, the defence maintained that the event had foreign organisers who had brought their own security personnel to Malta to assist with the event, describing such an arrangement as "quite normal".

Turning to the injuries, the defence argued that although the male victim's injuries were classified as grievous on paper, they did not, in its view, satisfy the substantive test normally associated with grievous injuries.

The defence urged the court to consider the circumstances surrounding the incident when determining punishment, including the alleged intoxication and provocation, the context in which the guards were carrying out their work, and their cooperation with police.
Both men entered guilty pleas to the charges brought against them.

The court ultimately sentenced each man to 18 months' imprisonment suspended for three years. A restraining order was also issued in favour of the victims. 

Lawyer Charles Mercieca represented the accused, Inspector Noelene Maria Magro prosecuted along with AG lawyer Michael Muscat. 

Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi presided over the sitting