A Maltese international footballer has been sentected to 15 months in jail after he was found guilty of harassing his ex-partner, just two weeks after receiving warnings and a suspended sentence by the court.

Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, who played centre-back for both Malta and Gżira, violated a previous court protection order and suspended sentence issued on August 16th and continued to harras his ex-girlfriend with repeated phone calls.

At one point, Baldacchino even stalked the victim to the beach but walked away without talking to her.

Consequently, such “obsessive” behaviour amounted to severe distress and anxiety for the victim who feared violence would be used against her.

The case fell within the realms of domestic violence and Baldacchino’s recidivism, despite warnings and a suspended sentence a fortnight earlier, landed him an extra nine months on top of his original six, making it a total 15 months of jail time.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia who presided over the case noted how the court’s hands “were tied” in this situation and that Baldacchino “was to take sole responsibility for his actions”.

Baldacchino was also fined €1,000, with the court also issuing a 5-year Protection Order in favour of the victim.

Lawyer Jean Paul Sammut was defence counsel, and Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted.