Maltese footballer risks ruining career over harassing girlfriend, court hears

Maltese footballer Clifford Gatt Baldacchino is appealing his sentence after defence lawyers said that he risks ruining his football career due to the ‘excessive’ 15 months imprisonment for harassing his ex-girlfriend.

Gatt Baldacchino had breached a court protection order when he followed his ex-girlfriend and called her incessantly on her phone and has admitted to his ‘obsessive’ behaviour.

During a bail hearing, the defence argued that Gatt Baldacchino could not accept how his two-year romantic relationship had ended and that he needed professional help to get over it and to overcome an arduous period in his life.

After all, they argued, Gatt Baldacchino had “rendered a service to the state” being a Malta national football team player.

Defence lawyer Mark Vassallo said that his client was going through a trauma, especially during his experience of prison for the past two weeks. Professional psychological help would help him get back on track.

“He admitted to having committed a series of mistakes when the relationship came to an end and he would not take no for an answer,” Vassallo said.

He added that 15 months in prison did not make sense especially in view of this punishment ruining the accused’s career and life. “At least we should try to save him,” he said, adding that the sentencing had been hasty.

The strong presence of the accused’s family in the courtroom was testament to the man’s supportive family background and other support system of friends and relatives, the defence said.

The prosecution said that it would not object to bail as long as there were strict conditions Gatt Baldacchino had to adhere to.

Bail was granted against a deposit of €3,000 and a personal guarantee of €4,000. The court imposed a 10pm to 7.30am curfew and ordered Gatt Baldacchino to refrain from making any form of contact with his ex. He is also to be examined by a court-appointed psychiatrist while a treatment order has been issued.

Mark Vassallo, Edward Gatt and Jean Paul Sammut were defence counsel.

Madame Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera was presiding.