A JUDGE has allowed a York murderess to walk free from court after she admitted drugs offences committed while on parole.

But the Home Office may yet send former glamorous gran Anne Elizabeth Bishay back to prison to continue the life sentence she received for a murder committed in Chelmsford, Essex, in 1979.

Tom Storey, prosecuting, said Bishay, 53, handed police more than 700 Ecstasy tablets worth £7,100 when they raided her home.

York Crown Court heard she also told them the name of the alleged dealer she treated as a son, who she says forced her into looking after the tablets.

He has not been prosecuted, but police arrested and interviewed him.

Her barrister, Paul Williams, said she was so convinced she would be jailed, she had found a new home for her cat.

But Recorder Duncan Smith told Bishay: "It seems it will not serve the public at all if you ... are sent to prison.

"You are someone who is very vulnerable and needs a lot of assistance."

Bishay, of Acomb Wood Drive, Acomb, pleaded guilty to allowing her home to be used for the supply of Ecstasy and cannabis and possession of cannabis.

She was placed on probation for two years. Because she is a lifer, her conviction means the Parole Board, part of the Home Office, will now decide whether to end her parole by recalling her to prison, order her to have closer probation supervision that could last longer than two years, or take no action.

Mr Storey said police found four bars of cannabis resin in a wardrobe in Bishay's home, a small amount of cannabis in another room, scales and a knife with traces of cannabis and cocaine.

She said she knew nothing about the cannabis bars, but the other cannabis was hers. The scales and knife were used by the drug dealer.

Mr Williams said Bishay's "dramatic and terrible" upbringing had given her a personality disorder and other problems.

She suffered from osteoarthritis, which led to her cannabis use. She had few friends, but got to know a "heavy dealer who will use violence", a young man, whom she treated as a son.

He started leaving drugs with her and she was afraid to oppose him.

In 1991, when she was working for East Riding Sacks, Bishay won a glamorous granny competition.

Picture: Anne Bishay leaves York Crown Court after a judge ruled that she should not be jailed, despite admitting drugs offences committed while on parole from a life sentence for murder