A 24-year-old security officer from Ħamrun has been granted bail after denying threatening to stab the mother of his one-year-old child with a pair of scissors.

The man stands accused of threatening and insulting his former partner, as well as causing her to fear violence during the incident on 4 November.

He also faces charges over two earlier incidents, including damaging the woman's iPhone 15 Pro Max on 6 August and causing her slight injuries on 24 October.

The prosecution told the court that a risk assessment carried out on the woman produced a score of 17, indicating that she was at severe risk.

During Friday's arraignment, the woman asked the court to drop the charges against her former partner. However, Magistrate Lara Lanfranco refused the request after the woman said the accused had threatened to stab her with scissors so that "their son would have a reason to cry".

Despite the threat, the woman insisted that she wished to give him another chance in hopes of keeping the family together.

The magistrate explained that the court was not obliged to accept her request. Magistrate Lanfranco refused to halt the proceedings, noting that the incident was not an isolated occurrence and had taken place in the presence of the couple's minor child.

The defence subsequently requested bail, arguing that the accused had a clean criminal record, a stable job through which he supported his son and also had an alternative residence available.

The prosecution did not object to bail but requested that a protection order be issued in favour of the victim. The magistrate also warned that the victim herself must not be tempted to approach or contact the accused.

The court granted the accused bail against a €2,000 deposit and a €8,000 personal guarantee and issued the protection order in favour of the woman.

Inspector Sherona Buhagiar prosecuted. Defence lawyers Mark Vassallo and Shaun Zammit appeared for the accused. Magistrate Lara Lanfranco presided over the case.