An unemployed woman who was caught harbouring three wards of the state at her home pleaded not guilty and had her bail extended in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Sherrine Smith, 25, from Love Lane, Kingston, is to return to court on July 26 when the matter will be mentioned.

Allegations are that on June 16 about 6 p.m., police on mobile patrol duty received information that three juveniles who had escaped from the Glenhope Place of Safety were staying at the home of the accused.

Checks were made and the children were found. Smith was subsequently escorted to the Fletcher's Land Police Station where she was charged.

In her defence she said, "I was coming from town and mi see dem and dem say dem hungry and mi carry dem upa mi yard and cook and gi dem. When mi tell dem fi gwan home, dem neva wah leave."

She told the court that the juveniles told her they were from Craig Town and were only at her home for a few hours.