AN IRVINE man caught in a public space with a 7.5-inch kitchen knife claimed the item had been returned to him after being borrowed by a friend.
However, Peter Macdonald was still jailed when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week and pleaded guilty to one charge in relation to the matter.
The 38-year-old admitted being in possession of the bladed article on Caldon Road in Irvine on June 12 this year.
Police had been called to the area shortly after 12pm that day to carry out a welfare check in connection with an unrelated matter, prosecutor Gemma McKechnie explained.
She told the court: "Upon attending they were guided to a lane and when entering a female was seen in conversation with the accused [Macdonald]."
Both parties were spoken to by officers who noted that the Irvine man appeared to be under the influence of drugs at this time.
As a result, he was to be subject to a search. Police asked if he any sharp items on his person before this was carried out.
"He admitted he had kitchen knife in his bag pack," Ms McKechnie added. "No drugs were found but a knife with a 7.5-inch blade was recovered.
"The accused taken to Saltcoats police office where he was cautioned and charged to which he replied that a friend had borrowed the knife and he had just collected it."
Defending, solicitor Peter Murray added that a female friend of Macdonald had just been given a new tenancy before the offence took place.
He said: "He gave her items to assist her at that time. This item had been returned to him. He did not digress himself of the article and was within his bag pack.
"He should have returned it to his home address but it remained in his bag.
"There was no suggestion of any other criminality. Police were attending for a welfare check for another female. He also advised police of the presence of the weapon."
Mr Murray conceded that Macdonald knew a custodial sentence was inevitable and asked that he be given credit for the early timing of his guilty plea.
Sentencing, Sheriff George Jamieson order the 38-year-old to spend a period of six months in prison which was backdated to his initial remand on June 13 this year.
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