Man Sentenced for Flooding Ex with Messages

Imagine this: your phone buzzes every few minutes, day and night. It’s not a friend checking in or a family member sharing a joke. It’s a relentless stream of messages from an ex-partner, each one a tiny brick in a wall of unwanted communication. This was the reality for a local woman, until recently.

In a case that has sent shivers down the spines of Maltese women, a 35-year-old man was handed a probation order last week after admitting to bombarding his ex-partner with thousands of messages. The court heard how the man, a resident of Msida, sent an average of 150 messages a day to his former partner over a period of six months.

The court was told that the messages, sent from various social media platforms and messaging apps, ranged from declarations of love to threats of self-harm if the woman didn’t respond. The woman, a 32-year-old teacher from Birkirkara, told the court that she felt ‘trapped’ and ‘scared’ by the constant messages, leading her to change her phone number and even move house.

Psychologist Dr. Maria Azzopardi, who testified as an expert witness, explained the psychological impact of such behaviour. “This is a form of emotional abuse,” she said. “It’s not just about the number of messages, but the content and the intent behind them. It’s a way of controlling and manipulating the other person.”

This case comes at a time when Malta is strengthening its laws against cyberstalking and online harassment. The Cybercrime Act, enacted in 2018, makes it a criminal offence to use electronic communication to harass, threaten, or cause distress to another person. However, as this case shows, enforcement and awareness remain a challenge.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation’s Rebecca Agius welcomed the sentence, saying, “This sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. We need more cases like this to deter potential offenders and protect victims.”

The man was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and ordered to undergo counselling. He was also prohibited from contacting his former partner directly or indirectly. The court warned that any breach could result in a jail term.