Police arresting a Frenchwoman took a magistrate’s orders – to use force if necessary – quite literally and partly demolished a low wall to get in, Times of Malta has learnt.

Swieqi deputy mayor Justin Fenech said that, on Wednesday afternoon, he received a phone call from a friend of Catherine Sophie Pernot Sprangers, 57.

When he went to Ms Pernot Sprangers’ home in Swieqi he saw the partly demolished boundary wall. By then, he said, the police had left and taken Ms Pernot Sprangers with them.

Dr Fenech said he then asked an officer at the St Julian’s police station what had happened and was told the police had acted on a court mandate and would pay for the damaged wall.

Officers somehow partly demolished the wall leading to the front garden

When asked for a comment, the St Julian’s police station referred Times of Malta to the police press officer.

However, questions sent to the community and media relations unit, asking why the arresting officers felt it necessary to partly demolish the wall, remained unanswered by the time of going to print.

This newspaper received the standard acknowledgement reply, stating: “With reference to your e-mail below, please note that your request is being processed.”

Magistrate Francesco Depa-squale ordered the police to arrest Ms Pernot Sprangers after she failed to turn up for several St Julian’s district sittings to face charges of breaching the peace and swearing in public.

Three officers went to her home in Tal-Ibraġ on Wednesday to effect the arrest and ensure she attended the court sitting the following day.

A witness told Times of Malta that when Ms Pernot Sprangers refused to open the door, the officers demolished the wall leading to the front garden. Someone then opened the door for the officers, who went into the house and arrested the woman.

The witness said Ms Pernot Sprangers took photos of the police demolishing the wall.

When she appeared in court on Thursday to face charges of breaching the peace, she pleaded guilty and was fined €100.

She was then charged with hitting one of a policeman with her camera as he tried to arrest her in her home.

She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000.

In 2007, a police sergeant had, on appeal, been sentenced to a four-month jail term suspended for a year for having slightly injuring in Paceville after she acted in an aggressive manner.

Ms Pernot Sprangers later said they had become friends.