A Linwood man who asked pub goers to help him find two knives he had thrown away when he spotted cops has been jailed for more than a year.
Callum Maxwell, described as a prisoner of Low Moss prison near Bishopbriggs, admitted breaching his bail order on September 3 last year and being in possession of two knives in Linwood.
The procurator fiscal told Paisley Sheriff Court, Maxwell, 27, was granted bail on June 15 last year, with curfew conditions to remain within his Linwood home between 8pm until 7am each day.
He explained: “About 11pm on Friday, September 3, 2021, a number of witnesses were standing outside at the Clippens Inn public house in Linwood.
“They were at the rear door, which opens onto Stirling Drive.
“The accused was outside at the rear of the public house and he was drinking a can of lager and chatting to various people outside.
“A marked police vehicle drove along Stirling Drive towards the junction with Clippens Road.
“Witnesses saw that the accused appeared to panic and throw items away onto the concrete and grassy area at the rear of the pub.
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“One witness saw that the accused had discarded two knives, one with a red handle and the other with a black handle.
“The marked police vehicle passed by and the witness began talking to the accused, who still appeared agitated.
“The witness told the accused to calm down and the accused began making comments about stabbing an unknown male who had just passed by.
“The witness said that the accused had better pick up the knives.
“The accused then asked two witnesses if they had torches on their phones and if they could help him find ‘something.’
“The witness assisted the accused and they searched the nearby concrete and grassy area.
“A witness found a black handled kitchen knife near the kerb at the grassy area.
“The accused came over, picked up the knife and placed it up his jacket sleeve.
“The accused then asked the witness if they could also find a red knife.
“This was found at the grass edge after a short search.
“The accused came over again and placed this knife up his other sleeve, and then stated, ‘Don’t tell anyone what I’ve got, I will get five years for this.’
“The witness returned back inside the pub and informed the manager.
“About 11.15pm, a different witness was standing at the rear of the pub when the accused approached him and showed him two knives that he was in possession of.
“The witness then saw the accused put a knife up either sleeve of his jacket and the witness went back inside.
“Around 11.25pm the pub manager contacted police on 999 stating there was a male sat outside the pub and that he had two knives. The manager gave a description and stated that the male hadn’t been within the pub.
“About 11.30pm, the police arrived and immediately saw the accused on a wall.
“An unknown male made signals towards police to come over and then pointed at the accused.
“Police approached Maxwell and informed he would be detained for a search, and while doing so, one of the officers took hold of the accused’s right arm and the other took hold of his left arm and both officers felt long hard objects up the accused’s jacket sleeves.
“The accused was placed face down over the bonnet of the police vehicle and officers retrieved a black handled knife with a 20cm blade and a red kitchen knife with a 9cm blade.
“The accused was arrested and his breach of bail came to light when he provided his details.”
Defence agent Terry Gallanagh said: “There is little I can say that would mitigate the fact he had these items.”
Mr Gallanagh said his client had asked him to “publicly apologise to the court on his behalf.”
Sheriff Bruce Erroch QC said: “There is only one sentence I can pass today and that is a sentence of imprisonment.
“I’m concerned by your previous convictions and you’ve breached bail in the past that you have done here as well.
“You have accepted responsibility for what you did and for that I give you credit.”
Sheriff Erroch QC sentenced Maxwell to 16 months imprisonment, backdated to his date of remand on September 6.
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