A Romanian woman, who has a nine-month-old baby, was given a suspended sentence yesterday after she admitted to stealing from shops using a €200 note, which she used to get change from shopkeepers.

Ciuraru Paraschuva, 37, pleaded guilty to fraud and attempted fraud and theft from 21 shops.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana said reports were made from all over the island that a woman was going into shops with a €200 note, buying items and then taking the change together with her money.

“On Friday, we were told she was at a KFC outlet and we arrested her,” he said.

The police asked people to come forward and more than 23 reports were filed.

The problem was that the woman had no financial means and had a child.

She was in possession of an air ticket to leave the island today, the prosecuting officer said.

Ms Paraschuva had no means to pay the money back, he added.

Magistrate Camilleri sentenced her for nine months in prison, suspended for two years.

Lawyer Robert Montalto appeared for the woman.