A yob caught with a martial arts blade in his bag claimed he only used it when he went fishing.
David Walls, 40, was stopped for a drugs search in Johnstone’s High Street when officers found the throwing knife in the front pocket of his rucksack.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Walls insisted he forgot he had it on him and only used it “to throw at trees” when he went fishing.
However, he was arrested and taken into custody on May 13.
Procurator fiscal depute Mark Nicol said: “At around 11.40am, police were on uniform foot patrol in Johnstone town centre when they stopped the accused for a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
“During the search, police recovered a metal knife from the pocket in front of the accused’s rucksack.
“It has been described as a throwing knife, which is 19cm in length and has a 10cm blade, which was sharply pointed.
“When asked why he had it in his possession, the accused replied, ‘That’s no real,’ and ‘It’s no sharp.’
“He said he used it for practising martial arts and had forgotten it was in his bag.”
Walls, of Harvey Terrace, Lochwinnoch, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.
Defence agent Terry Gallanagh said his client took the knife when he went fishing and used it “to throw at trees,” when he was waiting on a bite.
He said: “He takes it with him when he goes fishing.
“He says he throws it against trees, which is not a criminal offence, but this becomes criminal when he has it when he is out and about.
“He had no intention to use it for any nefarious purpose and he had no recollection of it being present in his bag.”
The lawyer added Walls contacted him soon after he was arrested to explain his position, and he had kept to his story since he was lifted and charged.
Mr Gallanagh added that Walls wanted to “apologise profusely” to the court and had pleaded guilty as early as he could.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told him he accepted his reasons, but stressed it was “still not a legitimate purpose” for having the blade on him.
He said Walls, who has a previous conviction for assault, would benefit from the court placing him under supervision.
He was handed 140 hours unpaid work, ordered to attend alcohol counselling and will be supervised by the local authority for 12 months.
