A 37-year-old man from Birżebbuġa yesterday denied having sexual relations with an underage girl, though she is pregnant with his child.

The court heard how the 17-year-old girl told police that Etienne Galea was her boyfriend and they had been together for two years.

During his interrogation, Mr Galea did not deny that the girl was his girlfriend and neither did he deny that the child she was expecting was his.

He was charged with performing sexual acts with the girl, defiling her, taking indecent photographs of her, possessing child pornography and relapsing.

He told Magistrate Carol Peralta he was not guilty of the charges brought against him, prompting the magistrate to question whether the teenage girl was “the Immaculate Conception”.

The defendant was known to the police as he usually gave refuge to underage girls who either ran away from home or from an orphanage

Police inspector Joseph Busuttil said the couple were stopped by police as they were driving around the abandoned White Rocks Complex at around 5pm on Friday.

He said the defendant was known to the police as he usually gave refuge to underage girls who either ran away from home or from an orphanage.

The girl told police he was her boyfriend and they have been dating for two years. She also admitted to losing her virginity during sexual intercourse with him and told police he often showed her pornographic films.

During a search at his house, the police found a CD with indecent images of underage children.

Mr Galea told the court he was “currently” unemployed but emphasised that he was attending courses organised by the Employment and Training Corporation to learn English and Maltese.

His request for bail was turned down and he was remanded in custody.

Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia appeared for the man.