A man was jailed for three years yesterday after he admitted defiling a six-year-old girl in a games room in St Julian’s. The court heard that the incident occurred at 2.15pm on 10 December 2006 in the games room, when Anthony Camilleri, a 37-year-old from Tarxien, defiled the little girl.

The court heard how Camilleri, who worked at the games room, saw a young girl playing on one of the games there. Camilleri told the court that he invited the girl to play a game and while she was on the motorcycle, he touched her buttocks.

The court, presided over by magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, remarked that the punishment for such an offence is between three and six years in jail. Handing down her judgement, the magistrate took into account the fact that the offence was instantaneous and had not happened repeatedly, but also that it had occurred in a place frequented by minors where parents should have the assurance that their children are in a safe place.

She also took into consideration the fact that the accused had a low IQ and that he had a clean record.

The court also heard psychologist Roberta Holland explain how Camilleri usually fantasised about young girls and felt safe around them due to “inadequacies” in his character and personality.

The magistrate therefore jailed Camilleri for three years.

Police Inspector Carlo Ellul prosecuted.