A migrant woman admitted in court today that she had abandoned her baby in the care of a priest, saying she was acting out of desperation .

The woman, Kadaja Osman Mahmoud, a 21-year-old from Eritrea, is living at the Bon Pastur convent in Balzan.

The court was told that last Wednesday morning she called at Dar l-Emigrant and asked Fr Alfred Vella to make arrangements for her husband to be allowed to live with her and their baby at the convent.

Fr Vella explained to her that in the eyes of the state, she was not technically married. He asked her for some time so that he could make arrangements so that the three could live together.

The woman got angry and ran out of his office, leaving the baby behind.

Fr Vella informed the police of what had happened. Magistrate Edwina Grima, who was duty magistrate on the day, issued a care order. The woman was arrested.

In court this morning, the woman said that she knew that what she had done was wrong.

She explained that she was very unhappy with her life at the moment. Every man and woman wanted to better their lives, she said.

"I will not do this again" she pleaded.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella after noting the circumstances of the case, placed the woman under probation for a year, revoked the care order and returned the baby to her. She warned her, however, of the seriousness of failing to obey the probation officer's orders.