Russell Island resident, Michelle Jayde Stokes, in court for driving unlicensed, carrying a knife

A bayside woman facing numerous traffic charges, including driving on an island with stolen number plates, has baffled security with a bizarre knife display.

A bayside woman has been sentenced after being caught walking into a courthouse with a weapon as she appeared to face traffic and trespassing charges.

Russell Island resident, Michelle Jayde Stokes, pleaded guilty in the Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 2 to possession of a knife in a public place, driving unlicensed, driving unregistered and trespassing.

The court heard the 47-year-old woman was caught by police on March 3, 2021, driving on High St at Russell Island with stolen plates and unlicensed.

“She told police that she did not have a current drivers licence,” police prosecutor Sergeant Angela Tetley said.

Michelle Jayde Stokes. Picture: Facebook

“She stated that she swapped cars with a driver on the island and did not know about the plates.”

She was then charged with trespassing on August 26, 2021, before walking into the Cleveland Courthouse with what was described as a fishing knife on June 8 this year.

“She attended court to sort the matters out and when they entered she has declared a knife in the front pocket of her bag,” Sergeant Tetley said.

“She declared that she had it in her fishing bag but security could not find any other fishing equipment.”

Ms Stokes’s lawyer, Bree-Anna Bowtell, said her client was going through personal issues at the time.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said the charges were dated.

“These charges are all pretty old now, you’ve been out of trouble for a year now,” Ms Vasta said.

“You can’t be swapping cars with someone who has false plates on their cars.”

Ms Stokes was ordered to pay $800 for breaching a previous bond.

She was disqualified from driving for one month and ordered to comply on a good behaviour bond for 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.