A woman cowered beneath her disgruntled mother's stare as she sat in the dock charged with stealing the latter's jewellery soon after being released from prison.

Carmela Camilleri, 39, was found in possession of a watch and necklace with an estimated value of around €2,300, belonging to her mother Maria Camilleri, and charged with stealing them sometime last week.

Inspector Therese Sciberras, who prosecuted together with Inspector Robert Vella, said the daughter, who works as a chambermaid, already had a record tarnished by several past convictions.

She said that when she was released from prison she went to live with her mother, who had forgiven her despite falling victim to her past ploys.

Maria Camilleri, however, soon discovered that her jewellery had gone missing and, strongly suspecting in her daughter, decided to file a report at a police station, claiming that €9,320 worth of jewellery had been stolen.

A search of a flat she had only just moved into yielded the watch, necklace and about €300 in cash.

Objecting to a request for bail by lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace, Inspector Sciberras expressed her concern about where the remaining jewellery had gone, saying Carmela Camilleri had confessed that she was addicted to cocaine.

In fact, she said another investigation was underway after drug related material was found in her apartment during the same search.

Therefore, although the daughter pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, she was remanded in custody for the time being by Magistrate Edwina Grima.

Lawyer Anġlu Farrugia meanwhile represented her mother.