A Renfrewshire man has been jailed after he was found in a Paisley street in possession of a knife.
Ross Macleod claimed the reason cops found a knife in his jacket pocket was because his house had burned down and neighbours had given him items of clothing.
The 42-year-old claimed the knife was within the donated jacket’s pocket when he put it on.
Macleod, described as a prisoner of Low Moss jail in East Dunbartonshire, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court from custody where he admitted to being in possession of a knife on March 10 in the town’s Gilmour Street.
Procurator fiscal depute Dana Barclay told the court Macleod had his parole licence revoked that day.
Ms Barclay explained: “As a result of the accused’s licence being revoked, police traced and arrested him. PC McClelland advised the accused he would be searched and asked him if he had anything sharp in his possession.
“Macleod, stated, ‘I might have a knife in my bag, it’s wrapped up, my house burnt down and that’s all my possessions’ and he pointed to a carrier bag at that point.
“A search was carried out and officers recovered a lock-back knife in the folded position in Macleod’s left jacket pocket. He was cautioned and charged and held in custody to appear in this court.”
Defence agent Harvie Diamond explained Macleod was going through a “really bad time” in March after his house had been “burnt down”.
Mr Diamond explained: “My client’s house was burned down after two people poured petrol through the letterbox – fortunately, he was out at the time. He lost everything and as a result, some neighbours put clothes in a bag for him.
“He took a jacket out of the bag, put it on and once it was on, he found a knife in the pocket.
“He accepts it was there but he had no intention of causing any damage. His parole licence was revoked and his earliest liberation date is June 21, 2024.”
Mr Diamond added that Macleod “accepted” he had a “considerable amount of previous convictions” and stated he had a troubled upbringing, adding: “His father committed suicide, his brother was killed in a car crash and there’s been a number of horrible things that have affected him.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Bruce Erroch KC said: “I heard from the Crown and Mr Diamond and a contravention of a Section 49 is something I do have to take seriously.
“I have to consider your extensive record but I am going to take a pragmatic view given the reality of your current situation.”
Sheriff Erroch KC jailed Macleod for eight months backdating this to his date of remand on March 14.
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