Heavily pregnant drug addict jailed

A heavily pregnant woman has been sentenced to three months in jail for breaching bail conditions.

Donna Camilleri, 26, of Sta Luċija, was arraigned on theft charges on Tuesday, together with her sister and a man, and allowed bail on condition she has to be home between 8pm and 6am. Magistrate Neville Camilleri was told yesterday that less than 24 hours later she was caught at Gżira just before midnight.

Handing down sentence, Magistrate Camilleri recommended to the prison director to hold Camilleri in custody at Mt Carmel Hospital’s forensic section, because of her condition.

Inspector Jason Sultana told the court the accused needed to be censured but he did not agree that jail was the best solution. Her problem is that her boyfriend has a strong, bad influence on her and always leads her astray. Camilleri has a drug problem.

Defence counsel Simon Micallef Stafrace said his client needed help but the court said she had been given various opportunities and had even used her pregnancy to be given a lighter sentence.