A 41-year-old road sweeper, who lives in his car, was yesterday accused of defiling a 14-year-old girl who is now carrying his child.

Unassuming quiet girl who comes from a good family

The case emerged only recently after the girl’s parents realised that she missed her period and was putting on weight. Tests indicated that she was four months pregnant. Even though she was pregnant she continued to go to school and see him when her parents thought she was meeting a friend. Their sexual encounters happened in his car after he would pick her up in Valletta.

The shock for her parents was compounded by the fact that she is an unassuming quiet girl who comes from a good family, sources close to thecase say.

The accused, Stephen Borg, had an apartment in Birkirkara, which, however, did not have water and electricity supplies. Thus, he lived in his car, Police Inspector Melvyn Camilleri told the court.

Wearing a dark blue padded jacket and soiled track suit trousers, Mr Borg pleaded not guilty to defiling the teenager, participating in sexual acts with her and offending public morals.

Legal aid lawyer Mark Zammit Cutajar asked for bail but Magistrate Anthony Vella rejected the request, primarily because the accused had tried to speak to the girl and her parents during the investigations.

The prosecuting officer said the man had tried to come to some sort of an arrangement with the family to avoid the case ending up in court but the request was immediately turned down by the girl’s parents.

The officer also pointed out that it took the police about 24 hours to find him since he lived in his car. In addition, he had threatened to seriously harm himself as he could no longer bear the situation.