A young drug addict and her partner ran away from the police as they tried to arrest them in a police station, and they managed to stay on the run for 10 days, a court heard on Wednesday.

The two are facing charges of theft from two service stations.   

Ellie Briffa, 24 from Mosta, was arraigned on Wednesday. Her partner is due to be arraigned next week.

A court was told that she and her partner were seen on CCTV footage at the service stations in Birkirkara and in Msida, driving a Kia Mentor. They were identified as they regularly signed the bail book at Birkirkara police station.

The police attempted to arrest them when they turned up to sign the book on March 25, but they ran out before the police could arrest them, speeding away in their car.

They remained on the run until their arrest on Tuesday, when they were apprehended by the Rapid Intervention Unit.

The woman was arraigned on Wednesday and accused of three cases of theft, failing to obey police orders on March 25, being in possession of heroin at the time of arrest and breaching earlier bail conditions.

No request for bail was made during the arraignment, however, in view of the woman’s own admission regarding her drug problems and request for help, Magistrate Ian Farrugia, presiding over the hearing, remanded her under preventive arrest.

The court ordered that a copy of the minute of the hearing be communicated to the Director at CCF so that the arrested person might receive all necessary help.

Inspector Roderick Spiteri also assisted in the prosecution.

Lawyer Ishmael Psaila was defence counsel.