A nursing aide who claimed that his estranged wife touched their 14-year-old son inappropriately was charged with filing a false report.

The 36-year-old man from Żurrieq was also accused of using Facebook chats to blackmail the woman. He denied the charges.

But the court also heard how the teenage son will be arraigned before the juvenile court after police investigations into the report revealed he had made up the story that landed his father in trouble.

The man, whose name cannot be mentioned to protect the identity of the minor, denied filing the false report on August 27.

Police inspectors Roderick Spiteri and Chantelle Casha charged the man with unlawful access to his estranged wife’s Facebook account, downloading data and then using the documents to blackmail the woman into signing a separation contract as he wanted it.

They further charged the man with knowingly reporting a false crime to the police. He was also charged with committing a crime he was duty-bound to prevent in his role as a public officer.

They charged the man with unlawful access to his estranged wife’s Facebook account, and then using the documents to blackmail her

Magistrate Neville Camilleri heard the police inspectors object to the granting of bail, given that the woman still had to testify.

But defence lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili insisted there were no grounds to deny bail. Dr Dalli explained that the couple had separated last year. While the 14-year-old boy was living with his father, another two children were living with the mother and there was absolutely no communication between them.

Magistrate Camilleri upheld the request, granting him bail against a €1,000 deposit and a €5,000 personal guarantee.

He was ordered to sign the bail book twice a week and to be home between 8pm and 6am. The magistrate also issued a protection order in favour of the estranged wife.