A 17-year-old boy was charged with defiling a 10-year-old girl, his cousin, as he was out feeding his father's chickens in a field in Cospicua.

During the arraignment, two social workers were called into the courtroom after Magistrate Doreen Clarke said she was concerned about the teenager's welfare and wanted to know more about his background.

The court heard that the boy is quite violent, especially with his brothers at home, but there had never been any incidents of a sexual nature before.

The prosecuting police inspector, the social workers and the 17-year-old boy's father were called in to discuss his case in private in the magistrate's chambers.

The magistrate decided to remand him in custody at Mount Carmel Hospital as it was feared the evidence could be tampered with, seeing as the cousin is a neighbour.

The boy is not being named because he is underaged and also to protect the identity of his cousin.