Man’s Harassment Ends in Probation Order

Imagine this: you’re walking down Republic Street, Malta’s bustling heart, and your phone buzzes with yet another message. It’s not a friend checking in, or a family member sharing news. It’s him – your ex-partner, who just won’t let go. This was the reality for a local woman, until recently.

A man from Msida, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, has been handed a probation order after bombarding his ex-partner with messages. The court heard that the man, in his late 30s, sent hundreds of messages, many of them abusive, over a period of several months.

The couple had been in a relationship for over two years before it ended. According to the victim’s testimony, the man became increasingly controlling and jealous towards the end. After their breakup, his behaviour escalated. He started sending messages at all hours, demanding to know where she was, who she was with, and why she hadn’t replied.

“It was like being trapped in a nightmare,” the victim told Hot Malta. “I’d be out with friends, and my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. I’d look at it, and it would be him, again.”

The man was charged under the Peace and Order Act, which makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause distress. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months’ probation and ordered to pay a €500 fine.

While the victim feels a sense of relief, she admits the experience has left its mark. “It’s not just about the messages,” she says. “It’s about the fear, the constant looking over your shoulder, the feeling that you can’t escape. That’s what he took from me.”

Hot Malta reached out to the Malta Police Force for comment. A spokesperson confirmed that they take such cases seriously and encourage victims to come forward. “We have specialist units trained to deal with these cases, and we’re here to support victims every step of the way,” they said.

Sadly, this isn’t an isolated case. According to the Women’s Rights Foundation, Malta sees around 200 cases of stalking and harassment each year. But many more go unreported. The foundation urges victims to speak out, reminding them that they’re not alone and that help is available.

“We need to break the silence around this issue,” says a spokesperson for the foundation. “We need to let victims know that their experiences are valid, that they’re not to blame, and that there is a way out.”