A Cospicua woman has been cleared of living off the earnings of prostitution of an underage girl after the court found serious inconsistencies in her version.

The minor girl was a known prostitute and her police record was laden with convictions related to prostitution and loitering. Both names cannot be published by court order.

The 33-year-old woman was brought into the picture when the police arrested the girl over alleged breach of bail conditions. During her interrogation, the girl admitted that she had a drug addiction and was selling her body for sex to sustain her expensive habit.

She claimed that the woman used to accompany her to Gzira and would stay on the lookout, informing her when police were in the vicinity.

The court said it was clear that the minor had started living the life of a prostitute long before meeting the accused and did not need encouragement from anyone to persist.

She also claimed that she used to give her some of the money she earned from every session.

However, the accused consistently denied the claims, saying that although she knew of the girl's prostitution, she never partook in any of it. She also told the police that the girl often asked her to accompany her in her loitering activities but she never did out of embarrassment.

The court, presided by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, noted that the prosecution's case was based entirely on the minor's sworn statement which made no mention of the accused in connection with activities related to the earnings of prostitution.

The magistrate also noted how the relations between the two women went downhill after the girl started taking a special interest in her boyfriend.

The court found the accused innocent of all charges, noting that it was clear that the minor had started living the life of a prostitute long before meeting the accused and did not need encouragement from anyone to persist.

Magistrate Demicoli further noted that since the earnings were used to buy drugs for the pair showed that the accused was not living off the prostitution earnings of the minor.

Lawyers Franco Galea, Michael and Lucio Sciriha appeared for the woman.