A man who cannot be identified by court order was yesterday jailed for three years and six months after being found guilty of defiling one girl and indecently assaulting a second, both minors.

The mother of one of the victims was the partner of the accused. She reported him to the police after her daughter's friend, the other victim, told her she had been harassed by him.

She later found out that her daughter had also been sexually molested in the couple's own bed.

The mother testified that she had never suspected in the man because he had two daughters of his own.

She also said she had been living with the man for two years, during which time he had also been physically aggressive.

The other girl's mother testified that the two girls had come home one day and told her they needed to file a report with the police over an incident in which the man pressed her daughter towards him on the street.

The accused had denied the charges, saying that he had a very good relationship with his partner's daughter and always gave her good advice about life in general and her relationship with her father.

He was found guilty of indecent assault, defilement and offending public morals.

In handing down judgment, Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima said: "This punishment is being accorded after the court took in consideration the criminal record of the accused and the fact that this case involves two minor girls and a young female adult and the fact that in the realms of lewd acts, all things being considered, the acts committed on these three females were of a more minor nature".

Details such as names, places and dates could not be reported.