Three young men were today found guilty of violently and indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Hamrun in September 2007.

Two of the men were then aged 16. Another was 13. A fourth boy, also allegedly involved in the incident, had not been traced.

The (then) 16-year-olds were given a two-year jail term suspended for three years and the (then) 13-year-old boy was put on probation for two years.

The girl, who has severe learning difficulties, had said that four boys held her and sexually assaulted her by placing their private parts on her face and touching her private parts.

The boys denied the allegations and one insisted that he was being framed.

A friend of the girl described the victim as someone who made up a lot of stories about people, even accusing her of assault.  The case had been taken to court but the alleged victim had then admitted to lying.

However, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli ruled that she believed the version given by the girl because she managed to remain consistent.