Jailed for defiling minor while showering

A 49-year-old Irish national was yesterday jailed for three years after he admitted to defiling a boy when he walked in on him when having a shower while he was on house arrest due to similar charges.

After handing down judgment, Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani recommended the director of prison to ensure the personal safety of Hugh Glass while serving time.

Mr Glass pleaded guilty to the defilement of the boy, aged under 12, on and before April.

The magistrate heard that the boy walked in on Mr Glass when he was having a shower and, rather than cover himself, he started masturbating. The incident happened when he was under house arrest, as part of his bail conditions in another case in which he was also charged with defiling a minor.

She also noted that Mr Glass lived in Ireland and had migrated to the US "but refused to comment on the reason for having left the above mentioned countries".

The court turned down a request by the defence to order a ban on the publication of the name of the accused "due to the fact that the circumstances of the case are not such to involve a familial relationship between the abuser and the victim through which the identity of the child may be revealed".

Police inspectors Louise Calleja and Josric Mifsud prosecuted.