A 26-year-old woman from Zurrieq who lives in a car and has been convicted of four cases of theft so far this year has been jailed for 28 months after a court found that she had also ignored a probation order.

In her most recent case, Sandra Grixti, 26, was convicted of having stolen sunglasses and soft drinks from a car in Msida last Wednesday.

During the proceedings, the court heard how the woman has a drugs problem.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja noted that the woman had pleaded guilty but henceforth had not cooperated with the police.

He said that the facts of the case, and also the woman's appearance, showed that she needed help.

The court, however, could not ignore the fact that the woman had already so far this year been convicted of three other cases of theft. She had been placed on a three-year probation order and been given the opportunity to reform, but she did not take up the opportunity.

She had not even met her probation officer.

The court said it was mindful of its duty to protect society, while helping this drug victim.

The court found the woman guilty of the theft and of violating the conditions of her probation order.

She was  sentenced to a prison term of 28 months and placed under a treatment order to overcome her psychological and drug addiction problems. The Director of Prisons was asked to provide her with the facilities in prison for the treatment order to succeed.