A man who prostituted his 18-year-old girlfriend to finance his drug addiction was yesterday placed under probation for three years.

Duncan Caruana, 23, from Żebbuġ, pleaded guilty of living off the earnings of prostitution of his girlfriend.

The couple had started seeing each other a year before Mr Caruana was arrested in July 2008. They had a normal relationship but the girl, who was unemployed and lived off social benefits, was unhappy at home because she felt tied down by her family. Her boyfriend, who worked at a carwash, had a drug addiction problem and needed money to pay for his habit.

The court heard that Albert Abela, Mr Caruana’s friend, would find the clients and take them to her. He and Mr Caruana had agreed to split the money earned through the girl’s prostitution, leaving nothing for her.

She moved into Mr Abela’s apartment and he had sex with her to “try her out”. He then gave her €50. Mr Caruana was then invited to take part in a threesome with his girlfriend and Mr Abela. Immediately after, Mr Abela gave her condoms, which she put in her bra, and drove her to Marsa.

In her testimony, the girl admitted she had financial difficulties but accepted to prostitute herself against her will.

Mr Caruana gave four statements to the police, changing his version of events.

Magistrate Edwina Grima said there was a “serious conflict” about what led the girl to take the path of prostitution.

In handing down judgment, the court noted Mr Caruana’s early guilty plea and a report drawn up by his probation officer, which pointed out he was living a stable life and working on his drug addiction.

Apart from the probation order, he was also fined him €500.

Police Inspector Melvyn Camilleri prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Caruana.