Reckless driver bit police officer who stopped him, court hears

A man has been fined €1,000 and placed under a suspended sentence for biting a policeman who stopped him for dangerous driving yesterday

One constable was slightly injured when the accused bit him. As a result, he was also charged with assaulting the officers and slightly injuring one
One constable was slightly injured when the accused bit him. As a result, he was also charged with assaulting the officers and slightly injuring one

A man has been fined €1,000 and placed under a suspended sentence for biting a policeman who stopped him for dangerous driving yesterday.

Carlos Gauci is understood to have fought with and threatened his girlfriend and was chasing a bus in which she was riding, when the police pulled him over.

Few details of the events emerged during the sitting, prosecuting inspector Josric Mifsud and defence lawyer Victoria Cuschieri opting to approach the bench to discuss the case out of earshot of the public.

The 31-year-old San Gwann resident was accused of breaching the peace on Wednesday at 5am, shouting foul language and blaspheming loudly outside a residence in Birgu.

When the police arrived, the accused had threatened the five officers and disobeyed their orders, the court was told. One constable was slightly injured when the accused bit him. As a result, he was also charged with assaulting the officers and slightly injuring one. The police also pressed charges relating to dangerous driving, speeding and failure to obey traffic regulations.

Gauci, who spent most of the arraignment, sitting in the dock with his head in his hands, pleaded guilty to the charges.

In sentencing the man, magistrate Aaron Bugeja took into account the accused's clean criminal record, early admission and his readiness to make reparations for the damage caused to the officer's uniform. The incident had no serious effects on the officer involved, the court said, and the accused had recognised that he had made a serious mistake.

The court condemned Gauci to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year. The consequences of Gauci committing any other offence in the coming 12 months was explained to him. He was also fined €1,000.


At the prosecution's request, the court also ordered the suspension of the man's driving licence for one month and ordered him not to approach the officers involved or his girlfriend's family members for a year against a penalty of €1,000.