A MAN who was caught with a knife in Eglinton Country Park has been jailed for the crime.

Mark Kerr’s solicitor urged a judge to release his client from custody after the 29-year-old was remanded following the incident last month.

But Sheriff Laura Mundell said she believed prison was the only option.

Kerr, of Leven Place, Irvine, had previously admitted being in possession of the blade on September 10 without lawful authority or a reasonable excuse.

Kerr was brought from custody for sentencing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on October 12, when his lawyer asked for him to be given a community-based sentence.

The solicitor said Kerr “does have a number of difficulties" but did seem to be someone who would be suitable for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) - a court order that is aimed at assisting offenders to reduce their drug use and related offending.

Kerr’s solicitor said that while knife possession would “not normally” lead to a DTTO, the incident and Kerr's "erratic behaviour" had come "on the back of a drug addiction".

Alternatively the lawyer suggested an unpaid work punishment and a ‘restriction of liberty order’ would be suitable.

But Sheriff Mundell saw neither option as a fit punishment.

She said: "I have taken into account everything that your solicitor has said, however in my view the only appropriate sentence is imprisonment."

Kerr will now serve a four-month term behind bars, backdated to September 11 when he was first remanded in custody.