Two Hamilton men caught with weapons in a hotel car park have avoided prison.
Police recovered a knife and a meat cleaver after suspecting the pair were involved in a drug deal.
Marc McMahon, 31, of Elliot Crescent, and Dean Hughes, 29, of Mournian Way, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
They admitted obstructing police officers and being in possession of bladed items in the Premier Inn car park at Bellziehill, Bellshill, on October 29, 2020.
Alice Carey, prosecuting, said police officers were on patrol about 10.30pm when they saw Hughes get out of a Volkswagen Golf and enter an Audi that was then driven away.
An hour later the officers returned to find the Audi back in the car park with two people inside.
Ms Carey told the court: "The officers identified themselves and told the occupants, McMahon and Hughes, they were being detained for a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
"McMahon threw a small black object - a lockback knife - on to the grass, re-entered the Audi, started the engine and tried to get away.
"But the police officers managed to get the keys out of the ignition and he was handcuffed.
"Hughes took the opportunity to run towards the Volkswagen that was still in the car park.
"He started the engine but the car came to a sudden halt and he ran off towards the nearby McDonalds.
"The officers searched McMahon's car and retrieved a meat cleaver from under the seat on which Hughes had been sitting."
Sheriff Ray Small ordered both men to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to custody.
He told them: "I can see why police thought some kind of drug deal was going on.
"Apparently that wasn't the case. Nevertheless, the way you behaved when the officers went to speak to you was entirely inappropriate."
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
