A 23-year-old salesgirl was conditionally discharged for 18 months after being found guilty of involuntarily damaging clothes at her former workplace.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard that Roxanne Callus, 23, from Marsascala, used to work for Big Bon Stores when, in December 2010, she was reported to the police for damaging items during her notice period.

The court heard that Ms Callus had been told to place barcodes on jackets in the store. Her job was to make a small incision in the plastic packaging and place the barcode on the tag before they were distributed to the company’s various shops around the island.

However, when they arrived at the shops, the jackets were found to be damaged and the company directors immediately filed a police report. Ms Callus had not been approached before the report was filed.

It also emerged that Ms Callus was changing her job because the working hours did not suit her any longer and not because she had any clashes with her bosses or colleagues. There had been a problem with her performance but this was solved when she was transferred to a different shop.

The court noted that there was no doubt that items had been damaged by Ms Callus but there had not been the criminal intent to damage them.

She said the court was convinced that Ms Callus was negligent in her work and this was what had led to the jackets being damaged.