A WOMAN breached a probation order so she could care for her sick father in Malta, a court heard.

Bolton magistrates were told that Gail Elizabeth Jones, aged 23, of Legender Street, Bolton, had been placed on a probation order following a deception offence.

But she failed to keep in touch with her supervisor and did not report a change of address for the duration of the order. The court heard Jones had gone to live in Malta to care for her father, a successful businessman, who lived there. It was claimed he had nobody else to look after him.

On arriving back in England, Jones gave herself up. Magistrates were also told she had paid only £15 of a compensation order amounting to more than £1,300 imposed in June 2000 after she was convicted of stealing from her former employer. In her defence, the court heard Jones had been struggling with a drug addiction at the time.

Magistrates imposed a £20 fine for breach of a probation order but ruled that time already spent in custody could be taken in lieu of the fine.

Jones was ordered to pay off the compensation order at a rate of £5 per week.