A 45-year-old bartender living in Valletta was handed a suspended prison sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an assault that left another man grievously injured.

John Pierre Farrugia admitted the charges before the Court of Magistrates, which sentenced him to 15 months in prison suspended for two years.

The case concerns an incident in Valletta on 30 September, between 8am and 1pm.

According to the charges, Farrugia grievously injured another person without intending to kill him or place his life in manifest danger.

He was also charged with causing the victim to fear that violence would be used against him or his property, with the prosecution alleging the offence was aggravated by violence or physical or psychological harm.

Farrugia further faced charges of insulting, threatening or otherwise causing harm to the victim, as well as voluntarily breaching the public peace.

After his guilty plea, the court imposed a 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

It also issued a restraining order in favour of the victim, which will remain in force for three years from today.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Abigail Pomroy, while lawyers Justine Brincat and Joseph Camilleri Azarov appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.

Lawyer Franco Debono appeared as parte civile, while lawyer Charles Mercieca represented the accused.