A heroin addict who stole €135 worth of clothes from a shop at BayStreet Shopping Complex was handed a suspended sentence today, despite being warned by a magistrate that she had been given several chances to reform.

Daniela Spiteri, 33, from St Julian's, admitted to the theft of bagfuls of clothes from Calliope at 4.30pm on Tuesday. She also admitted to breaching several court orders.

Magistrate Monica Vella told Ms Spiteri that the courts had been very understanding about her drug addiction and had also been very lenient, giving her no less than three probation orders.

Most of her crimes were related to theft.

Legal aid lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar said that the thefts were being committed to finance her drug addiction.

The magistrate heard how the amount stolen had been refunded.

The magistrate said there were seven convictions in Ms Spiteri's criminal record, and she had benefited from at least three probation orders.

Ms Spiteri was clearly suffering drug withdrawal symptoms when she appeared in court. She kept fidgeting in the dock and could not stay still for a moment.

When the sitting resumed after a suspension, the woman reiterated her guilty plea so Magistrate Vella jailed her for six months suspended for three years and issued a treatment order for Ms Spiteri to start a drug rehabilitation programme.

The magistrate warned her that this was one of the final chances to get her life back on track. “You're still young and you can kick the habit. Do not waste your life,” the magistrate told the woman.

Police Inspector Matthew Spagnol prosecuted.