A WOMAN armed herself with a CS spray in case of an assault.

Alexandra Turner-Rowley kept the prohibited weapon in her handbag for two years after falling victim to a nasty attack.

Police found the spray after a car the 23-year-old was travelling in was stopped for having a faulty brake light.

Turner-Rowley, of South View, Paddock, appeared before Kirklees magistrates yesterday.

She pleaded guilty to having possession of a weapon designed for the discharge of a noxious liquid, an offence under the Firearms Act.

Andrew Mills, prosecuting, said Turner-Rowley was passenger in a yellow Ford Ka being driven along Manchester Road in Huddersfield on March 7. Police ordered the car to stop because it was displaying a faulty brake light.

The driver, Joseph Whitwam, of Lowergate, Paddock, admitted that he was not insured to drive the vehicle. The 26-year-old was given a £110 fine and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points.

While Whitwam was being dealt with, another officer spoke with Turner-Rowley and thought he could smell cannabis.

Mr Mills said: “Because of that suspicion he informed the defendant that she was subject to being searched. The defendant was reluctant for that to happen but she handed over her handbag.

“The officer found a canister with an aerosol dispenser, which in his view was very similar to the CS spray that officers are administered with in their duty.”

Turner-Rowley claimed that she thought that the can was a pepper spray and that she had kept in on her due to past violence.

She added that she had been given it by a friend to keep in her handbag but had not had cause to use it.

Amjid Mahmood, mitigating, said that the self-employed hairdresser was subjected to a serious assault several years ago.

He said: “That knocked her confidence and her friend, being concerned for her, passed this item to her.”

Magistrates fined her £200 and ordered her to pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge. They also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the CS spray.