A Pembroke woman was given a 12 month conditional discharge after admitting having drug equipment.

Sandra Smith, 53, pleaded guilty to possessing a metal pipe that contained trace amounts of cocaine on May 9 of this year, when she appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Police on patrol near the junction of Union Street and King Street saw Smith walking towards them.

When she noticed the officers, they said she stopped, quickly looked around, and began to walk down a narrow side street. Police approached her and asked her if she had any illegal drugs or material, at which point she said "I'm sorry" and handed the officers a metal pipe.

Tests later revealed trace amounts of cocaine on the pipe.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner noted that Smith had a previous conviction for cocaine possession in 1986, saying: "After all these years, why are you still dabbling with drugs?"

Smith said that she had gone into rehabilitation in August at Turning Point, and was working to complete a drug rehabilitation programme.

Mr. Warner gave Smith a 12 month discharge under the condition that she complete the drug programme, saying: "Ms Smith, you are getting old. It's time to get yourself in order."