A former prison inmate confirmed in court today that an alleged drug trafficker in the prison had four television sets in her cell, and could also do what she wanted, including having visits when they were not allowed. She also confirmed that the accused used to shout at the warders and order them about.

The evidence was given in the second day of the trial by jury of Josette Bickle, 40, who is accused of drug trafficking in prison between 2006 and 2008.

The jury yesterday heard evidence that Bickle had free rein at the prisons, with prisoners and warders scared of her. A witness described her as 'the queen' while the court was also told that she had four televisions sets and a surround system in a cell and her bank account was growing as a result of her activities.

Doreen Bugeja, 27, told the jury this morning that the accused used to make her life in prison a hell. 

She said she used to be completely doped with medication and once the accused put a burning cigarette in her pants to make fun of her.

"I used to use smack (heroin ) inside and would get the drug from the accused. I used to pay for it with everyday things like tobacco or assemble playmobil figures for which Bickle would be paid instead of me.  I used to receive relief (social services) money and would pay her €100 (€230) from that amount. This happened twice."

Bugeja said she would cook the drug on foil in her cell and then smoke it.

She once bought drugs from Elaine Muscat and someone named Connie.

The witness said there was a plot in that Muscat too wanted to earn money from this operation, especially when Connie was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital.

Bugeja said the accused made her life in prison 'hell'. When she left prison, drugs became more scarce.

Taking the witness stand, Elaine Muscat said that she spent four years in prison and she has been out for around three years.

She said she would buy drugs from the accused and gave her clothes telecards and other items as payment. Generally, she never used to give her cheques.

She would write on a book how much they would work in prison (making Playmobil toys). She would take drugs every day if she could, but the amounts were not large.

The warders would search the cells sometimes but they never found any drugs in her cell.

Muscat said she would pay some €50 a packet of drugs. The packets would have the first letter of the inmates' names on them.

The witness said she was Bickle's slave as she was addicted to drugs. She would wash Bickle in the shower, wash her clothes, wash her hair and clean her cell.

Asked if the warders ever smelt the heroin being smoked, the witness said the warders did not say anything because they were scared of the accused. She did what she wanted in the prison. She would fight with them, shout at them, and they would give her what she wanted.

The prisoners were supposed to have two visits a week but Bickle would get extra visits on days when people were not supposed to visit. She also did not participate in the washing of the cells.

Muscat recalled that when the prisoners were paid for their work in prison, Bickle would tell her to ask Alison Sgendo (a prison warder who issued the cheques) to issue a cheque for €100 to her mother and that way she could get her drugs.

Ms Muscat said she would do everything for the accused and she would even know when she would get drugs into prison - which was every time she had a visit.

Everyone would be circling her cell when she got the drug in. If any inmate stopped buying from her, she would make her life hell and she would turn the other inmates against her.

Even the warders would stick up for her. If, for example there was an argument, they would always stick up for her.

Ms Muscat said she remembered that Bickle once tried to attack the director of prisons. 

When Bickle's term ended, the whole division helped her to move her stuff. She had three or four televisions, lots of clothes and many other items packed into one cell. She knew because she carried them, along with Pauline Pisani.

Bickle had lockers filled with tobacco and telecards. She had 20 packets of tabbaco.

Ms Muscat said she had thought she would reform herself in prison, but because of Bickle, she could not.