A man was jailed for six months today after the court found him guilty of having performed lewd acts in front of a child near a beach five years ago.

The court, which banned publication of names and details of those involved, found that the man had performed lewd acts while telling the child to look at him. The child was not touched.

The accused and the child were next-door neighbours and their families were best friends.

Inspector Malcolm Spiteri said the case was investigated after a report from the child's father. He had told the police that his family had gone swimming with the family of the accused at Rinella Bay. The boy's father had told the police that he had seen the accused performing lewd acts in a nearby cave. He immediately filed a police report.

The accused denied the charges and said he had been urinating.

The police inspector said the child had contradicted the accused. He also described how the man asked him to join him for a walk to the cave, where the case happened. He also described what had happened.