Tourist fined after headlocking police sergeant in Paceville

A 25-year-old man was fined €1,200 after admitting to headlocking a police sergeant during a drunken confrontation in Paceville.

The incident occurred at around 4am on Saturday when Gabriel Luke Mcivor, a British tourist, got involved into a heated argument with a security guard outside a gentleman’s club.

Mcivor faced several charges, including threatening and assaulting public officials, disobeying legitimate police orders, breaching the public peace, and being drunk in public to the point of being unable to take care of himself.

He was arraigned before Magistrate Jean-Paul Grech on Monday afternoon.

The court heard from police Inspector Dylan Pace that four officers were patrolling the area when they observed Mcivor in a heated argument with a security guard.

Mcivor claimed he had spent approximately €6,000 inside the establishment and wanted to retrieve his money. When a police sergeant informed him that the dispute was a civil matter requiring legal advice, Mcivor reportedly became aggressive.

As officers attempted to escort him toward the square, Mcivor allegedly grabbed the sergeant by the neck in a headlock.

The sergeant fell to the ground but avoided injury, a fact the prosecution attributed to the protective hard cap that is part of the police uniform.

Mcivor, who was described as visibly intoxicated, was eventually taken to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance.

While the police initially returned his belongings, they kept his passport for safekeeping and was re-arrested on Monday after a warrant was secured.

Defence lawyers Stefano Filletti and Maurice Meli contested the validity of the arrest but the court dismissed the arguments.

Mcivor ultimately pleaded guilty to all charges and, through his legal team, apologised for his actions.

Magistrate Grech imposed a €1,200 fine and bound the man with a €1,000 personal guarantee to refrain from further molesting or annoying the sergeant involved.

“I hope this is the first and the last time you have similar incidents,” the magistrate told Mcivor, reminding him that the police are there to maintain order and assist the public.

Inspector Dylan Pace prosecuted, while lawyers Stefano Filletti and Maurice Meli appeared for the accused.