A 60-year-old man was charged in court this morning with engaging prostitutes with his young son to "prevent him from becoming gay".

It was the prostitutes themselves who anonymously reported the case to child protection agency Appogg, police inspectors Joseph Busuttil and John Spiteri told Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras. 

The incidents allegedly happened in Marsa and at his home last year when the boy was six years old, the court heard.

Although the two women were involved in prostitution and drugs they felt they had no choice but to alert the authorities about the case. 

The accused would take a prostitute friend to Marsa, the court heard but he sometimes also forced her to have sex with his son. The father also wanted to involve his son in joint sex acts with the woman.

The man reasoned out that he did not want his son to be gay because he already had two gay cousins, the court heard. 

The boy was approached by the police in the presence of a social worker where they were told that the father had bought his silence by threatening him he would put him in a home if he spoke up. 

Drugs were also taken in the presence of the child, the inspector said.

The boy is currently being kept in a care home. 

The father pleaded not guilty but did not request bail. 

Protection orders were made against the father from approaching his son or the women. The name of the father is not being released to protect the identity of the boy.

Lawyer Yanika Camilleri defended the accused.