A 23-year-old man yesterday pleaded guilty to defiling his 14-year-old girlfriend throughout their six-month relationship. The man, from Hamrun, whose name is not being published on court order, pleaded guilty to defiling a girl with whom he has had a relationship since August. The court heard how the girl’s parents filed a report at a police station in which they expressed their concern that their daughter was having an intimate relationship with an older man.

The man’s defence lawyer, Jose Herrera, said his client was in a relationship with the young girl and said that the girl, whose name cannot be published since she is still a minor, had given her consent to the intimate relations between the two. “They’re in love with each other. He did not rape her. She is just his girlfriend,” he said. Dr Herrera suggested that his client, in view of the circumstances of the case and his clean police record, should be given a suspended jail term. To this, Police Inspector Mario Tonna said that he agreed with the defence but added that he would also suggest a supervision order in view of the defendant’s drug addiction.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani postponed the case to 14 February, Valentine’s Day, when she will hand down her judgement. On a request for bail, Magistrate Padovani said she will provide for this request in camera.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted while Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Veronique Dalli appeared for the accused.