A tooled-up yob from Cambuslang caught with two large blades claimed he was “only getting cutlery” from his pal.
Scott Wallace, 23, was snared after leaving the weapons in a plastic bag in the back of a taxi after getting out at the Scotia Airport Hotel in Paisley on June 27.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard the taxi driver reported Wallace to the cops after spotting the knives sticking out the bag on the back seat of his cab.
Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald told the court: “The taxi arrived at McKerrell Street, Paisley, for the hire to the Scotia Airport Hotel, New Sneddon Street, at around 1.30am.
“The driver saw two males exit the common close and walk towards the vehicle.
“Wallace was carrying a blue plastic carrier bag, and he sat on the rear passenger seat. He appeared intoxicated.
“He then exited the vehicle in conversation with the second male.
“When he left the vehicle, the driver noticed the blue carrier bag, and saw blades sticking out of the bag.
“He contacted his control room, who alerted police.”
The court heard cops had been called to a separate incident in the town involving two males attempting to burst into a property.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver took the weapons, described as a black plastic handled knife with a ten to 12 inch blade and wooden handled knife with a six to eight inch blade, to the police station.
Cops at the station contacted colleagues probing the second incident and Wallace was arrested and quizzed about the knives. He replied: “I was only getting cutlery from my mate.”
He pleaded guilty to possessing the knives. He also admitted possession of the weapons while he was on a curfew.
A defence agent said Wallace had exercised “poor judgement” in going to a friend’s house, where “the friend had provided him with some items, which were recovered by police”.
He said Wallace, who appeared from custody and had recently moved to Paisley from Cambuslang, had pleaded guilty as early as possible.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew jailed Wallace for 18 months, telling him: “You are getting quite a lengthy record and have 32 previous convictions, including two for assault, and you were on bail for an assault matter at the time of the offence.”
