An Estonian woman set fire to a pillow-case and short circuited the electricity system in a cell at police headquarters, causing a black-out in the whole holding block, a court was told today.

The incident on Monday-Tuesday night last week.

Ingrid Kalviste, 25, had been drinking from a glass cup outside a Paceville establishment when she was approached by a policeman, who pointed out that drinking from a glass cup in the street in Paceville is illegal.

The woman became aggressive and hit the officer, who arrested her.

She was was taken to a police van in Paceville, where she caused damage to the vehicle.

Kalviste, who is in Malta on holiday, was then transferred to police headquarters where, in a holding cell, she set fire to a pillow-case. She then managed to short-circuit the electrical wires, Police Inspector Nicolai Sant told the court.

The woman pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring the officer, damaging the mobile police station and damaging the cell. She also denied resisting six officers, disobeying orders, breaching the peace and using the glass cup in Paceville.

The court was told that the woman was taken for examination to Mt Carmel Hospital and quickly discharged from there.

She was remanded in custody.