A Libyan man was yesterday remanded in custody pending judgement after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a 13-year-old schoolgirl and trying to kiss her as she was walking back home from school.

The incident took place in Mgarr on Tuesday at 2.45pm when Nabil Kelfe Hipleg, 20, assaulted the 13-year-old girl on her way back home from school.

He pleaded guilty to holding her against her will and corrupting the minor girl, whose name cannot be mentioned by court order since she is still a minor.

The court heard how the girl slapped him and ran away and then later went to a field where she knew the man worked, recognised him and went to file a police report.

Hipleg pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. Magistrate Giovanni Grixti put off the case to Wednesday for judgement.

In the meantime, he ordered that Hipleg be detained in preventive custody.

Police Inspector Paul Bond prosecuted.