Man jailed for speaking to alleged rape victim

A 61-year-old man who stands accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in 2005 was today jailed for three months for having broken bail conditions when he spoke to the alleged victim.

The man, who is from Cospicua, admitted to having spoken to the girl, who is now 16.

The girl told the court that earlier this week the accused saw her in a shop and told her that she was sweet when she was young, and now she was sexy.

Later he sent her a comment through another girl, promising her money if she changed a statement she had given to the police.

The girl's uncle also told the court that he recently met the accused in Marsascala and he claimed that his niece was prostituting herself.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said she disagreed with claims by the defence that these involved a minor breach of bail conditions