An appeals court today converted a one year jail imposed on a person found guilty of defiling a 14-year-old girl into a one year jail term suspended for four years.

The case happened on August 5, 2000 and the the accused, Anthony Theuma, was convicted last November.

In his appeal Mr Theuma said the Magistrates' Court had not made a good appreciation of the evidence and the fact that the alleged victim had changed her version several times. It had also not considered that he had reformed himself and was now a married man a father. He also complained that court proceedings had taken too long.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, sitting in the appeals court, said the victim had invited herself to the boat of the accused, where another man was also present and was also later also taken to court on similar charges.

The court said it had considered the gravity of the case and the fact that the accused had other convictions. It also noted, however, that the accused had stayed away from crime for the past nine years and that the victim had forgiven him. Furthermore, he was now married and had children.

In such circumstances, the court felt that a suspended sentence was more appropriate.