A 55-year old man was accused on Saturday of having repeatedly raped his partner’s children while she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims, was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to raping two minors, a boy younger than 12 and a girl.

He also pleaded not guilty to raping another person, considered vulnerable because of his mental state, within sight of a minor.

Inspector John Spiteri told the court that the man’s partner and another woman, a relative, had come forward together claiming that the accused had engaged in sexual activity with each of their children.

Police suspect that the crimes were carried out over a number of years, on occasions when the children’s mother was in hospital or bedridden as a result of treatment she was receiving for cancer.

The prosecuting officer objected to the defence’s request for bail due to the severity of the case, which he said was one of the ugliest he had encountered in his career, and the man’s prior police record.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono argued there had been elements of cooperation with the police and that, if released on bail, the man would not be returning to his partner’s home.

Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace denied the request and ordered that the accused be remanded in custody.