A 15-year-old girl with psychiatric problems who is currently being treated at Mount Carmel Hospital yesterday admitted to making 300 calls to the emergency number 112 and swearing at officers who answered the phone.

The girl, who up until yesterday was being held in the adults ward, had been given a mobile phone by her father and sister in case of an emergency.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna told the court that the girl had suffered insults from other residents while there and should be moved to the children’s ward where she belonged.

In pleas on punishment, lawyer Franco Galea asked Magistrate Gabriella Vella to take into consideration the special circumstances of the case.

The magistrate placed the girl on probation for three years. She asked to speak to the girl at the bench, where she explained her situation and told her that she was going to get the help she needed.

The magistrate also sent a recommendation to the hospital director that the girl be moved to the children’s ward immediately.

In other cases, the Juvenile Court arraigned two boys aged 10 and 12 for making calls to the emergency services. Their cases continue.