The cruelty of drug addiction was exposed in a court room yesterday as a woman refused to accept her brother back home after he threatened their mother over the money he needed for his next fix.

“Our hearts go out to you but you need help,” said the sister of Charlot Briffa, 30, ashe begged her to give him a place to stay while he got himself into a drug rehabilitation programme within the next two weeks.

So strong was his addiction that he smashed up his 67-year-old mother’s house and threatened her in order to obtain money for drugs, Police Inspector Spiridione Zammit told the court.

Lawyer Michael Sciriha requested bail and as he did, his client turned to his sister and begged her to let him stay with her for a short time so that he could be granted bail.

She walked over to the dock and said that while she felt sorry for him, a lot could happen in just one hour, let alone a week.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti said he was going to be presiding over the case and added that he would be sending a recommendation to the prison director that Mr Briffa be kept at the forensic unit of Mount Carmel hospital.

He said that if the accused really did show an interest in entering a drug rehabilitation programme within the next two weeks then his bail request would be reconsidered.

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