A 51-year-old woman gave Police a run for their money when she bolted from Magistrates' Court yesterday morning.

Marissa Glynn Ratteray, of Pembroke, was brought before Acting Magistrate Carlisle Greaves on charges of housebreaking and stealing jewellery worth $1,820 and about $15 in cash from a Pembroke home.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges and opted to be tried in Magistrates' Court.

Mr. Greaves remanded her into custody until her trial and then attempted to move on to the next case before the court - and that was the moment when the wiry Ratteray chose to make her escape.

She bolted from the courtroom and managed to make it down to Front Street before she was finally apprehended by two court Police officers.

After an initial stunned silence, jokes began to race around the courtroom that Ms Ratteray was getting a head start to International Race Weekend.

On her return to the courtroom, an out-of-breath Ratteray told Mr. Greaves she was sorry.

"I apologise, I really do apologise," she said.

Ms Ratteray explained that she did not understand why the prosecutor had objected to her bail, and was worried about being remanded as she needed medication.

"I didn't understand it - I was frightened, I had pleaded not guilty," she said.

Mr. Greaves remanded Ms Ratteray into custody once more, "to ensure you don't run away again".

When Duty counsel Llewellyn Peniston argued against custody, saying: "There is the issue of medication," Mr. Greaves replied: "The prison is famous for assisting with medication. You are guaranteed to get it there, more so than if you are free."

Ratteray was remanded until her trial, which is set down for February 20.