Youth sentenced to 24 months behind bars for stealing vehicle, loitering for prostitution

A 20-year-old woman from Floriana has been jailed for 24 months after pleading guilty to loitering with the intent of prostitution, to stealing a number of items from a car, and to damaging a car.

The court heard how on 24 February 2013, the accused, Donna Sciberras, stole a stereo, a tyre pump, four seats and several hand tools from inside an Isuzu Gemini in Triq Gublew tal-Fidda, Vittoriosa.  

Moreover, the accused was charged with driving the car without insurance, with handling the stolen property, and with damaging the car.

The prosecution also explained that up until 21 August, the accused was missing for a number of weeks, before she was found in a street renowned for prostitution. Prior to her going missing, Sciberras had been following a drug rehabilitation programme with Caritas but absconded.

In July 2013, Sciberras – who at the time was homeless - was placed under a probation order after pleading guilty to stealing a handbag from a car. During that sitting, the court had also heard that the accused had been living in an institute for most of her life and was taken into care from a very early age.

Standing before Magistrate Neville Camilleri, the accused admitted to stealing from the vehicle, to damaging the vehicle, to driving without insurance, to loitering with the intent of prostitution, to breaching a probation order, and to relapsing.

In its submissions, the prosecution, led by inspector Carlos Cordina, told the court that the woman as given several chances to reform. In its decree, the court noted that the woman has a voluminous criminal record, and that she has a drug problem.

Magistrate Camilleri found the woman guilty of all charges, except of stealing the vehicle, and sentenced her to 24 months in prison.

Inspector Carlos Cordina prosecuted.