The Court of Appeal has confirmed a court judgement sentencing a man to a seven-year jail term for raping an 11-year-old girl.

The court found no reason to doubt the victim's credibility.

Mr Justice David Scicluna heard that back in December 2005, the accused (a family friend) was driving the girl back home, when he opted to take a detour to a Zabbar garage to fix a car fault.

Once there, he locked the garage door, called the girl over to view a vehicle that was undergoing restoration works, and then stripped to reveal the lower-half of his body.

The girl had informed her mother about the ordeal.

The accused was certified as having a compulsive personality by a number of psychiatrists, and being of 'borderline intelligence.'

The court confirmed the judgement which imposed a seven-year jail term, and also recommended that the accused be taken to the Forensic Unit ad Mount Carmel Hospital to receive treatment for his condition.