Imagine this: your phone buzzes every few minutes, day and night. It’s not a friend checking in or a group chat gone wild. It’s your ex-partner, sending message after message, unable to let go. This was the reality for a local woman, until her ex-partner’s actions landed him in court.

A Deluge of Messages

The man, a 35-year-old resident of Msida, was recently handed a probation order after admitting to harassing his former partner. Over a period of six months, he sent her a staggering 1,500 messages, many of them pleading, some threatening. The woman, understandably, felt harassed and intimidated, leading her to report the incident to the police.

“It was like being trapped in a never-ending conversation I didn’t want to have,” she told Hot Malta, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I just wanted him to understand that it was over, but he couldn’t accept it.”

The Law Catches Up

Malta’s Criminal Code defines harassment as using any means of communication to repeatedly engage with someone, causing them to suffer harassment, alarm, or distress. The Msida man was charged under this law and eventually pleaded guilty. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech sentenced him to six months’ probation and ordered him to pay his former partner €500 in compensation.

“This case sends a clear message,” said Inspector Joseph Mercieca, who handled the case. “Harassment is a serious crime, and we will not tolerate anyone making someone else’s life a misery.”

Support and Prevention

Local NGOs like Dar tal-Providenza and KOPIN have been working to raise awareness about harassment and domestic violence. They offer support to victims and urge anyone experiencing such issues to reach out. “It’s important to remember that you’re not alone,” said a spokesperson for KOPIN. “Help is available, and you deserve to be safe and respected.”

Prevention is also key. The police are encouraging everyone to report any incidents of harassment, no matter how small. “Don’t wait until it escalates,” Inspector Mercieca advised. “The sooner we know about something, the sooner we can help.”

As for the woman at the heart of this story, she’s . “I’m relieved it’s over,” she said. “I can move on now, and I hope he can too, in a way that respects my boundaries.”