A Gozitan sex offender who abused a 15-year old boy has been jailed for 5-years and placed under a treatment order.

The sexual abuse came to light following a conversation between the young boy and his mother.

The 15-year old had explained how a 50-year old man, whom he met at the place, and had apparently been stepping into the bathroom, naked, whenever he spotted the teen having a shower.

The man, Joseph Haber, now 58, had met the teenager at a place, which cannot be identified under court order so as to avoid the identification of the victim.

After befriending the boy and getting on closer terms with him, the man had requested the boy’s telephone number so as to keep in touch.

He had then called the boy, inviting him over to his house to show him his pet bird and a dog which he had mentioned to him.

It was during this visit, and two other visits that the accused had engaged in sexual acts with the 15-year old.

The boy’s mother had informed the police, who then charged the man with defilement, holding the minor against his will, violent indecent assault and engaging in sexual acts with the boy.

In the course of proceedings, the teenage boy testified about the alleged events, and his testimony was corroborated by a number of other witnesses, including a social worker, police officers and three civilian witnesses.

Having seen the evidence, the court, presided over by magistrate Joseph Mifsud, who was assigned the proceedings in 2015, concluded that all the accusations had been proven, except the charge of having held the victim against his will.

On the strength of the minor’s testimony, there was no doubt that the activity engaged by the accused had amounted to libidinous acts, said the magistrate, ruling that defilement, violent indecent assault and the sexual acts with the minor had been proven.

The court found Haber guilty and condemned him to a 5-year term of imprisonment, also placing him under a 3-year Treatment Order so as to address his sexual drive towards underage persons.

The court also issued a 3-year Protection Order in favour of the victim, whilst ordering the accused’s name to be entered in the sex offenders register.

The publication of the name of the minor, his relatives and the place where the abuse took place were banned so as to avoid identification of the victim.