A woman who was granted bail on the condition that she found herself a different home was back in court less than 24 hours later after police found her back at her old address.

Charlene Gatt, a 33-year old St Paul’s Bay resident living on unemployment benefits, was re-arrested and marched back to court less than 24 hours after facing charges of having attacked her neighbour with a mallet.

The woman had been granted bail under a number of stringent conditions, including a personal guarantee of €10,000, an obligation to sign the bail book three times weekly and an order not to lay foot in St Paul’s Bay.

Ms Gatt had been bound under a Protection Order and placed under a curfew between 7pm and 7am.

“You must follow all instructions otherwise you’ll face great problems,” Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo had warned as Thursday’s hearing came to an end.

Yet, that warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears since the woman was allegedly found by police, early on Friday morning, back at her old address in St Paul’s Bay.

The woman was re-arrested and charged with the breach of bail, pleading not guilty.

For this reason, prosecuting Inspector Spiridione Zammit strongly objected to a fresh request for bail by defence lawyer Yanika Vidal.

The court, presided over by magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace, in the light of the circumstances, rejected the request and remanded the woman in custody, recommending that the Director of Prisons was to offer her all necessary care.

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