A 15-year-old boy was admitted to a mental institute yesterday after pleading not guilty to the attempted rape of his sister at their home in Victoria.

The court heard how a member of the family caught the boy in the act as he was forcibly removing his 13-year-old sister's clothes last Wednesday.

The children's father reported the incident to police, who immediately launched an investigation.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to attempted rape. He was also charged with defiling the girl.

Magistrate Anthony Ellul denied bail and the boy was referred to the mental section at the Gozo General Hospital where court-appointed psychologists will examine him.

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted while lawyer Angele Formosa appeared for the defendant.

Meanwhile, 33-year-old Frank Tanti was yesterday charged at the Valletta law courts with offences relating to the sexual assault of a 15-year-old autistic girl.

Prosecuting inspector Anthony Taljana said the assault by the gardener from Rabat was likely to lead to a deterioration in the girl's condition at a point when she was beginning to make significant progress.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima denied bail as well as an application for a ban on publication of the man's name.

Claudio Zammit appeared for the defendant.