A sex offender who has already been jailed twice for sex crimes yesterday admitted to raping his former partner and defiling her 13-year-old daughter.

The 42-year-old man, who cannot be named by court order to protect the victims, and because he suffers from psychiatric problems, also admitted to violently indecently assaulting the 23-year-old daughter of the same woman.

The electrician from Valletta stood in the dock wearing clothes stained with white paint and looked dishevelled as he asked the magistrate if he could speak to her away from the presence of the public and the press.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella granted the request after Police Inspector Jesmond Borg told the court that the man did not want a lawyer.

Shortly after the court room doors were closed, lawyer Jose Herrera was seen going in and later said he was in fact legal counsel for the man.

The accused has five pending court cases, one for holding a woman against her will, two for attempted rape, another for attempted indecent assault and another for offending public morals.

During yesterday’s arraignment, Dr Herrera asked for a pre-sentencing report to be drawn up on the man’s mental health and the Magistrate postponed judgment for one month.

The inspector also asked for the man to be kept in division eight of the prison while in custody because this was a section for people with similar problems.