A 32-year-old man was charged with defiling his five-year-old son when he allegedly exposed himself to his girlfriend in a car when the boy was present.

The man cried silently in the dock as he pleaded not guilty to defilement and offending public morals when he dropped his trousers in the car and made "certain gestures" in the presence of his son.

The alleged incident happened on April 5, a Sunday, when the man had access to the child who lives with his mother.

The man asked for bail but the prosecuting officer, Police Inspector Louise Calleja, objected saying there was the risk he would approach the witnesses. She explained that the boy had told the police that his father had told him not to tell anyone about what had happened in the car. However, the child eventually opened up.

"The boy was clearly affected by the incident because he is refusing to see his father," she said.

The magistrate granted the man bail on condition he remains indoors between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and bound him by a personal guarantee of €5,000.

The name of the man is not being published by court order to protect the identity of the child.

Lawyer Toni Abela appeared for the man.