A former pub landlady who was caught dealing cocaine from the back of a taxi in Watford was jailed for 27 months on Wednesday (February 27).

Grandmother Karen O'Neill, 49, was stopped just after midnight when police spotted a taxi being driven around in circles in the Nascot Road area.

Prosecutor Ann Evans said O'Neill owned up to what she was doing immediately and said: "I have got cocaine in the bag. I don't know how much there is."

When it was analysed it was found to have a street value of between £920 and £1,380. She also had £720.10 in cash with her.

O'Neill, of High View, Watford, pleaded guilty to possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply on August 29 last year. She had received a suspended jail sentence in 2009 for selling drugs.

At an earlier hearing Richard Storey, defending, said O'Neill was dealing drugs that night to pay off the drug debts of a son.

"There had been threats to her family and children so she agreed to do it. There was no financial gain for her whatsoever. She had been vulnerable and was exploited," he said.

He said she had led a blameless life until she was 45 when she suffered a breakdown after the death of a grandchild which had a "massive effect on her".

Judge Stephen Gullick who had adjourned sentence until yesterday said he hoped the police had alerted the licensing authority to the taxi driver's actions.