Grandmother, 47, is caught riding mobility scooter while high on cannabis with stun gun, knife and drugs in her handbag
- Yvonne Harvey, 47, said she was carrying the stun gun and knife 'for protection'
- Her partner, Ellis Sherwood, was wrongly convicted of murdering a newsagent
- Harvey was found with a knife, stun gun and bags of cannabis and amphetamine
A grandmother has been caught riding on a mobility scooter while high on cannabis and carrying a hidden stun gun with a knife in her handbag.
Yvonne Harvey, 47, told shocked police she was carrying the stun gun 'for protection' as she rode her mobility scooter around the streets after dark.
And police then found a knife hidden in her handbag and two bags of speed tucked into her shorts as she weaved down a suburban estate.
Yvonne Harvey, 47, (pictured with partner Ellis Sherwood) told shocked police she was carrying the stun gun 'for protection' as she rode her mobility scooter around the streets after dark
Richard Ace, prosecuting, said: 'At 2.20am officers saw her riding on a mobility scooter. She smelled strongly of cannabis and appeared to be intoxicated.'
When questioned, stoned Harvey told the officers she had nothing illegal on her.
Police searched the scooter to find a stun gun along with two small bags of cannabis and bags of amphetamine. They also found two bags of amphetamine in her shorts.
Harvey was taken to Cardiff Bay police station - and a further search discovered a lock knife in her handbag and two phones were seized with two additional sim cards.
Police then found a knife hidden in her handbag and two bags of speed tucked into her shorts as she weaved down a suburban estate
She told the officers she was carrying the weapon 'for protection' because she and her partner Ellis Sherwood - formerly convicted of murdering a newsagent - had their home broken into.
Mr Sherwood was 19 when he was jailed - and spent 11 years in prison following a wrongful conviction for the murder of newsagent Phillip Saunders in Cardiff.
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He was freed in 1999 when his conviction was overturned after flaws in the case were made public.
Mr Sherwood was awarded up to £1.4million compensation and met Harvey soon after being released from prison.
She told the officers she was carrying the weapon 'for protection' because she and her partner Ellis Sherwood - formerly convicted of murdering a newsagent - had their home broken into
After Harvey was stopped, police went to her home to find Mr Sherwood there.
Police found a tin containing bags of cannabis, weighing scales and a tick list.
When she was interviewed she said the drugs were nothing to do with her. She said she had the stun gun and knife 'for protection' because her house had been broken into.
Mr Sherwood was 19 when he was jailed - and spent 11 years in prison following a wrongful conviction for the murder of newsagent Phillip Saunders in Cardiff
Her phone was had messages relating to cannabis deals. Cardiff Crown Court heard there was one saying: 'Can I pinch some bud?'
Mr Ace said Mr Sherwood, 51, was arrested but charges were not proceeded with against him.
Harvey, of Llanishen, Cardiff, admitted possessing cannabis and amphetamine, possessing a prohibited weapon, and being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug.
Marian Lewis, defending, said: 'There have been difficulties in the area as far as this defendant is concerned.'
The court heard she lived with Mr Sherwood, who had a lot of money, and their home was burgled.
Ms Lewis added: 'Mr Sherwood did receive substantial compensation for a false conviction many years ago. He does have significant means.
'There was an attack on her home by others and, rightly or wrongly, she had this item in her possession. It was never used.'
She said Harvey's drug dealing was limited to supplying to three people 'on half a dozen occasions - no more. The odd bud here or there'.
Recorder Timothy Brennan QC said she was 'engaged in drug culture'.
He said a custodial sentence was inevitable but had 'concern for the national state of health and the pressures that will put on public services'.
Recorder Brennan imposed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 15 months.
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