Shannon Leigh Williams being escorted to court in August, following the attack on a prison warder. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A British woman who stole luggage from the airport and then seriously injured a prison warder by elbowing her in the face has been jailed for nine months and fined €4,000.

Shannon Leigh Williams, 20, from Portsmouth, in England, gained a name for herself in June when she told a magistrate “Kiss my a**” as she was being escorted out of the courtroom after having been remanded in custody for her arrogance during the court sitting.

The woman appeared in court almost two months later charged with violently assaulting, resisting, threatening and disobeying a prison guard.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, who presided over both cases, heard how Ms Williams gained access to the baggage reclaim zone at Malta International Airport on June 8, from which she stole a black suitcase. She walked out of the airport and was apprehended a day later when the Maltese owners of the suitcase spotted her in Xemxija allegedly wearing items and carrying a handbag that had been in the stolen luggage.

Ms Williams told the police that she had gone to the airport to pick up her own luggage that had not arrived when she came to Malta on a Ryanair flight on May 17. She claimed the baggage she took was similar to hers and that when she opened it there was even a handbag similar to hers.

Although at first she pleaded not guilty to the theft, Ms Williams changed to a guilty plea in a subsequent sitting. Magistrate Bugeja therefore condemned her to one year in jail, which was, however, suspended for a period of two years.

Magistrate Bugeja also heard Ms Williams retract her not guilty plea over the other case, in which she was charged with seriously injuring prison warder Alison Vassallo at 3pm on August 1.

Correctional officer Vassallo told the court that on the day, Ms Williams was accompanied to a guest house in Xemxija to collect her personal belongings.

According to standard practice, on their return to prison inmates are first strip-searched and their personal items are then searched.

However, while her luggage was being searched, Ms Vassallo saw her placing something inside a folder. The folder had been checked before and nothing irregular had been found. However, when it was checked again, a mobile SIM card was found.

A second strip-search was ordered to ensure that nothing else was being concealed, but Ms Williams refused to be strip-searched again and became aggressive and elbowed Ms Vassallo in the face. She required stitches to her chin.

The magistrate jailed Ms Williams for nine months and fined her €4,000 after considering the special circumstances, including the conclusions of a court-appointed psychiatrist. Details of his report did not emerge in court.

Police Inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted, while Noel Bianco was defence lawyer.