A woman charged with possession of crack cocaine and an offensive weapon, provided much comedy in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Tanya Reid, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to both charges when she appeared before Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.

The facts are that about 10:50 a.m. on June 28, Reid was seen by an officer along Georges Lane in downtown Kingston. The officer detected a bulge in her back and when she was searched, a cocaine pipe with traces of a cream coloured substance, and a machete were found in her possession.

When cautioned about the machete, she reportedly told the officer, "a fi protect miself" and in relation to the cocaine, she reportedly said, "look fi di supplier."

Bottle, not drug

Reid told RM Pusey, "I had a crack bottle, not crack, so I'm guilty for the crack bottle, not crack cocaine. I only had the bottle they use." When questioned about the machete, she willingly admitted that she indeed had one and justified it by telling the court, "Yes, mi did have a 38, fi protect miself cause di cops dem naw do it fast enough."

She also asked to be sent to a live-in rehabilitation centre and when RM Pusey told her that it was not in her power to do so, she replied, "alright den, lock mi up and throw whe di key." When she learnt that she would have to undergo treatment, she objected and told the court, "No, no I'm perfectly sane." However, after learning that it was not psychiatric treatment, but drug rehabilitation, she said, "Thank you very much."

She was sentenced to six months in jail for possession of cocaine and 10 days for the offensive weapon. The sentences will run consecutively. After hearing the sentence, she smiled to herself in the dock and whispered, "Ok, yes, mi get mi wish."