A 21-year-old Bulgarian woman was conditionally discharged for three months for begging in Republic Street, Valletta.
Todorka Atanasova sobbed as she stood in the dock flanked by an interpreter. She pleaded guilty to living a vagabond life and harassing people when she asked for money in Valletta over the past weeks.
Police Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna and legal aid lawyer Patrick Valentino told the magistrate they agreed a conditional discharge was appropriate in the circumstances.
Magistrate Neville Camilleri took note of the fact that the woman had a clean criminal record and filed an early guilty plea.
The court also took into consideration the recommendation made by both the prosecution and the defence and handed down a conditional discharge.
Magistrate Camilleri warned Ms Atanasova that if she committed another crime she would have to answer for this one too.