Lindsay Lohan unveils new red triangle and script tattoo as she dresses in little black dress and killer Christian Louboutin heels for court hearing

PUBLISHED: 13:59 EST, 30 January 2013 | UPDATED: 14:22 EST, 30 January 2013

She had a tattoo of an innocent little girl etched into her arm before one of her many legal battles back in July 2010.

And it looks like troubled Lindsay Lohan has gone under the needle once again ahead of her latest court hearing.

The 26-year-old was seen sporting a new tattoo, nestled on her right inner arm, as she sat before Judge Stephanie Sautner in a Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday, where a trial date was set over car crash case.

New ink: Lindsay Lohan flaunted a new triangle tattoo complete with script underneath at her latest court hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday

New tattoo: Lindsay Lohan flaunted a new triangle tattoo complete with script underneath at her latest court hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The new design is a red triangle featuring messy script writing underneath.

Triangle tattoos have many meanings, but they have often been referred to as a symbol of change and stability.

Messy: The new design is a red triangle featuring messy script writing underneath

While she somewhat flaunted the tattoo as she arrived in court, during the hearing the Mean Girls star seemed to be hiding it from Judge Sautner.

And as she walked into the L.A courthouse, her mother Dina seemingly appeared to be concealing her daughter's new etching as she clasped her hand around Lindsay's arm.

Lindsay was clearly making an attempt at looking courtroom-appropriate on Wednesday, but missed the mark on several counts.

Her face was relatively make-up-free this time, but her hair was carelessly scraped back, giving the impression that she had just rolled out of bed.

And while the simple black shift dress she was wearing was fine attire for sunny LA, the cap sleeves exposed a very poor fake tan job: the troubled starlet's face, decolletage and arms were lurid orange, yet her legs were startlingly white in comparison.

Her cluster of long necklaces fell beneath the dress, clearly unintended to coordinate with it, giving the impression that they were part of a previous outfit, and the new dress was thrown on with little regard for the jewelry she was already wearing.

And though her towering black-and-white printed Christian Louboutin heels might have been perfect for the red carpet or a night out, they look quite ridiculous in this context.

This is not the first time Lindsay has been inked ahead of court.

Back in July 2010, she had a new tattoo done before she got locked up in jail.

It was on her left arm and while at first it looked like it might have been a scar, on closer inspection it was the outline of a little girl with her eyes closed.

It was just visible as she faced the judge before being handcuffed and sent to Lynwood jail in Los Angeles for flouting her bail conditions.

Lohan had the tattoo done at the Shamrock Social Club tattoo parlour in Hollywood, according to celebrity website TMZ at the time.

She chose the image because 'she liked the innocence of the girl,' a source told TMZ.

Lindsay has attempted to send subliminal messages to the judge in court before.

Covering up: Lindsay's mother Dina seemingly attempted to cover up the design as they arrived at court, but managed to draw more attention to it

More hearings: The 26-year-old was seen sporting the new tattoo, nestled on her right inner arm, as she went before Judge Stephanie Sautner

She famously had 'F*** You' painted on her fingernails at a court appearance earlier in the same month.

The obscene message was clearly visible on the middle finger which was often pointed in the direction of Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel at the time.

While the judge would not have been able to see the word from where she was sitting, it was picked up by photographers who were allowed into the courtroom.

The words had been painstakingly written in black over colourful nail polish.

Flanked: Lindsay was flanked by her mother and her lawyer Mark Heller as she arrived in court on Wednesday

The gesture made a mockery of the tearful plea that she was taking her court appearance seriously.

'I am not taking this as a joke. This is my life. It is my career. It is something I have worked for all my life,' the actress pleaded at the time.

'I don't want you to think I don't respect you and your terms.'

Meanwhile, in her latest hearing on Wednesday, Lindsay was told by a judge that she could still be found in violation of her probation - even if a jury finds her not guilty.

Sky-high: Lindsay arrived in court on Wednesday wearing a demure little black dress, but had slipped on some killer Christian Louboutin heels

The actress was in court for a hearing relating to a lying to police and reckless driving over a car crash in June last year on Pacific Coast Highway.

Judge Stephanie Sautner set a trial date for next month, and dryly commented to Lindsay: 'I'm glad to see you're feeling better,' in reference to the actress almost not showing up on health grounds.

Lindsay confirmed that Mark Heller, her new lawyer, will represent her in the case, after cutting ties with long-time attorney Shawn Holley.

Lohan hesitated when asked if she was comfortable with the change in legal representation - but agreed.

Tense: The actress was joined by her New York-based lawyer Heller in court after cutting ties with long-term attorney Shawn Holley

The actress is facing jail over claims she lied to police over a car crash in June last year on Pacific Coast Highway.

At the time she told police her assistant Gavin Doyle was driving her Porsche - but he later told police it was in fact Lohan behind the wheel.

Lindsay, whose probation stemming from her 2011 jewellery theft case was formally revoked in December, has been told that even if jurors find her not guilty in the trial, she could still be found in violation of her probation, because the standard of proof is lower.

The many faces of Lindsay: The actress went from a grin to almost in tears during the hearing

Essentially that means a jail term could still be on the cards.

New York lawyer Heller attempted to court favour with the judge, asking her about her NYC link as a former detective in the Big Apple.

'That was in another life,' Sautner fired back. 'Flattery does not get your anywhere in this court.'

Sautner also revealed that she is retiring later this month - so will not be the judge in Lindsay's trial.

Hard day's night: A sleepy-looking Lindsay appeared in court in Los Angeles on Wednesday for a probation violation hearing - hours after being rejected from two LA hotels

'I'm retiring before the 1st March, she said referring to Lindsay's next hearing: 'Not that I planned it this way.'

The next hearing will be March 1, while the trial has been set for March 18

Lohan arrived seven minutes late for the hearing, turning up at 8.37am local time for her 8.30am.

She looked deflated throughout proceedings as the legal teams discussed dates and scheduling.

A source previously said: 'Mark believes he can get Lindsay acquitted of all criminal charges stemming from her car accident in Santa Monica last summer.

Angelic? This is not the first time Lindsay has been inked ahead of court. Back in July 2010, she had a new 'innocent little girl' tattoo done on her left arm before she got locked up in jail

Obscene: The actress also famously had 'F*** You' painted on her fingernails at a court appearance earlier in the same month

'Lindsay has convinced Mark that she never lied to cops when they asked her if she was driving the car that day.

'There was a plea bargain offer on the table for Lindsay to go to rehab for nine months, but she absolutely refused that. Mark won't sign off on a deal that sends Lindsay to rehab for more than 60 days.'

Lindsay flew into Los Angeles on Tuesday night - and was promptly rejected from two hotels in the early hours of Wednesday morning - Shutters and Loews, where she has apparently been blacklisted.

The actress had claimed over the weekend that she was too ill to fly, with her attorney Heller presenting the judge with a note from the actress' doctor on Park Avenue saying Lindsay was suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection and could not travel.

Not a good week: After arriving in Los Angeles late on Tuesday night for the court hearing, Lindsay was reportedly turned away from two hotels

He is also said to have included an article from the New York Post newspaper about a flu epidemic hitting the city.

However, the real state of Lindsay's health remains unclear. She allegedly went to a New York doctor on Saturday but was spotted on a shopping spree in SoHo the same day.

But it was not until late on Tuesday that she decided she had to go to LA after becoming 'terrified' at the repercussions of missing court - and in order to dodge an arrest warrant.

'Too sick to fly'! Lindsay pictured shopping in Soho in New York on Saturday, the same day she allegedly visited a doctor to obtain a sick note

HIGHS AND LILOS: TIMELINE OF A TROUBLED STARLET

JANUARY 2006
Lindsay Lohan admits to having bulimia and taking drugs in the past in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine.

DECEMBER 2006
The actress' mother reveals she has joined Alcoholics Anonymous.

JANUARY 2007
She checks into rehab at the Wonderland Centre in L.A. for the first time.

MAY 26 2007
Lindsay crashes her Mercedes and was cited for driving under the influence. Police found a substance tentatively identified as 'a usable amount of cocaine' in connection with the accident.

MAY 29 2007
She returns to rehab for the second time.

JULY 2007

Just 11 days after leaving rehab, Lohan is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Santa Monica. The star, who was wearing an alcohol detection ankle bracelet, is booked for DUI, possession of cocaine, transporting a narcotic into a custody facility and driving on a suspended license.

AUGUST 2007

Lindsay checked in for her third rehab stint, this time at the exclusive Cirque Lodge Treatment Centre in Utah.

NOVEMBER 2007

She serves just 84 minutes in jail and begins community service as part of the plea deal for her two DUI convictions.

MAY 2010

After failing to turn up to a scheduled court hearing, Lohan in ordered to wear a SCRAM alcohol-monitoring bracelet and is ordered to random drug testing.

JUNE 2010

Her SCRAM bracelet is set off while she attends a MTV Awards after-party.

JULY 2010

Lohan begins serving 90 days at Lynwood jail in California for violating her probation in her DUI case. She is released for good behaviour after serving just 13 days.

AUGUST 2010

She checks in for a court ordered stint in rehab. She spends three weeks in UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

SEPTEMBER 2010

The actress is back in court after failing a drug test. A judge orders her to return to jail for 30 days. She appeals and a supervising judge allows her to leave after less than 14 hours behind bars. She later posts $ 300,000 bail. She checks into rehab for the fourth time.

DECEMBER 2010

Lindsay Lohan investigated by police after allegedly assaulting a female employee at the Betty Ford Centre.

JANUARY 2011
She is discharged from the clinic after three months.

FEBRUARY 9 2011
After being investigation for stealing a $ 2,500 necklace from a Venice, California, jewellery store, she is formally charged with one count of felony grand theft and her bail is set at $ 20,000.

FEBRUARY 23 2011

She is offered a plea deal in her theft case which involves jail time.

MARCH 23 2011

Determined to prove her innocence, Lohan rejects the plea deal and moves forward with a trial.

MARCH 29 2011

Police decide not to prosecute the star over her alleged assault of Betty Ford Centre employee.

APRIL 22 2011
Lohan scores a victory after her felony grand theft charge is reduced to a misdemeanour. Hours later, she is found in violation of her probation – from a previous DUI case - and sentenced to four months jail - but was later bailed after posting $ 75,000 bond and will now appeal.

MAY 26 - JUNE 29 2011

After being convicted, of the misdemeanour of theft and probation violation, and sentenced to 120 days in prison she was placed under house arrest due to overcrowding in jail. She spent 35 days at her home in Venice.

NOVEMBER 2011

Found guilty of violating her probation after failing to complete morgue duty and sentenced to 30 days in jail and 400 hours of community service.

Spent just 5 hours in prison due to overcrowding.

MARCH 2012

Lindsay's supervised probation ended after she completed the community service and therapy. She will still be on informal probation for the necklace theft until May 2014, with the only requirement to follow the law

JUNE 2012

Involved in car crash with a truck on Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles. She told police her assistant Gavin Doyle was the one driving her Porsche - he later told police it was in fact Lohan behind the wheel. Could still face charges for lying to police - and could result in probations being revoked

JULY 2012

Actress is asked to leave Chateau Marmont after failing to pay $ 46,000.

AUGUST 2012

Named as a suspect in $ 100,000 heist from friend's all charges were later dropped.

SEPTEMBER 2012

Star is arrested after clipping a pedestrian with her car and leaving the scene.

OCTOBER 2012

Hit and run case dropped by prosecutors. Actress could still face a civil law suit from alleged victim Jose Rodriguez

NOVEMBER 25, 2012

Lindsay stars in her first major role in years playing Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime biopic Liz & Dick. Critics panned the attempted comeback, calling her a 'train wreck' and viewers mocked her acting on social media.

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Arrested Thursday after police said she hit a woman during an argument at a New York City nightclub

DECEMBER 12TH, 2012

Lindsay's probation is revoked in relation to her 2011 jewellery theft case. The judge - Commissioner Jane Godfrey - has now scheduled a hearing for January 15 and if it is determined Lohan did violate her probation she could face up to 245 days in jail.

JANUARY 5TH, 2013

Actress fails to attend court hearing, partying in London with The Wanted singer Max George instead

JANUARY 15TH, 2013

News emerges that Lindsay sacked lawyer Shawn Holley as she put the final touches to a plea deal which would have instead sent the troubled starlet to 'lockdown rehab' for six months
The actress was arraigned on her latest charges, with a date of 30th January set for a probation violation hearing

JANUARY 30TH, 2013

Lindsay flies back to Los Angeles for her court hearing, after alleging just hours before that she was too ill to travel because of a respiratory tract infection.
Actress appears in court. Trial date is set for March 18.
Told she could still be found in violation of probation - even if acquitted on misdemeanour charges over car crash case