A 46-year old grandmother with a serious drug problem wiped the tears off her face on Friday as she learnt she would be spending five months in jail for having robbed a number of clothes stores.

Ms Wilson sat tearfully in the dock as the magistrate urged her to take hold of her life and mend her ways.

The woman was arrested after CCTV footage from a number of retail outlets in Valletta led investigators to identify her as the possible suspect behind a series of thefts, aggravated by value, committed between September and this month.

A subsequent search at the woman’s residence had reportedly led to the discovery of many more items reported stolen.

Ms Wilson was arrested and marched to court on Friday, where she admitted to the thefts, handling stolen property and breaching court conditions. The woman had been placed under probation in May.

“I tell you once again. I know it’s not easy but you must try to get back on your feet. Do your children need to see you in such trouble?” Magistrate Micallef Stafrace remarked, after declaring the accused guilty upon her own early admission and condemning her to a five-month effective jail term.

She was also placed under a three-year Probation Order.

“You haven’t had an easy life. I can tell that from the look on your face. You’ve already wasted a good part of your life. At least from now on, if not for yourself and your children, try to make up for it for the sake of your grandchildren. Do you want your grandchildren to visit you in jail?” the Magistrate went on.

“I’ve gone beyond the call of my duty but I felt I ought to tell you these words,” concluded the Magistrate as the accused wiped her weary face, nodding in understanding.

Inspectors Pricilla Caruana Lee and Jeffrey Scicluna prosecuted.
Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia was legal aid counsel.