Probation for single mother who attacked civil servant

A single mother who attacked a civil servant in Paola was placed on probation today, after she alleged in court that the man had hit her on the head with a telephone receiver.

Lorita Pace, 25, of Valletta, was given a year’s probation after admitting to attacking a civil servant last Friday, threatening two police officers, slightly injuring Mr Palmier, damaging a Perspex screen worth €133 and relapsing.

She told the Court that her boyfriend could not pay maintenance as he was currently in prison.

Because of a bureaucratic glitch, the Social Services Department was going to stop her social benefits, and she therefore called at the Social Security Office to sort out the problem.

She found the door closed but saw people inside so she thought she would wait until someone got out for her to get in.

But when she tried to get in, Mr Palmier allegedly pushed her out of the door and she fell to the floor.

Feeling embarrassed and hurt, she went after him. She alleged that he hit her on her head with a telephone receiver.

When asked by magistrate Silvio Meli how many children she had she said she had two, one aged three-and-a-half years, the other nine months.

Referring to her criminal record, Magistrate Meli asked her what had happened in the past.

Ms Pace said she had been a drug addict but has been clean for about four years.

She said the court cases she had related to drugs had all come after she had gone off the habit and was recovering.