A 35-year-old woman has been imprisoned for nine months and fined €850 for possession of cocaine and heroin which were not for personal use.

The court, presided by Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras in handing down judgement noted that the accused, Ruth Borda, had previous convictions for theft and had twice been given a conditional discharge and twice been placed under probation. She had also been condemned to a two-year prison term and placed under a treatment order. 

In this case, however, she made an early guilty plea and cooperated with the police such that they could prosecute other persons.

The court also noted that the accused suffered an acute drug problem. The prison authorities were asked to provide the necessary help for her to recover.