A private ambulance crew member found with two knives said they were not for sinister purposes.
Concerns were raised by staff at a Bristol-based private ambulance service about Alexander Zugic carrying a blade.
Police called in and found he had a lock knife on him and another knife in his car.
But it was Zugic's case that he used the knives for outdoor pursuits and had neglected to return them to safe storage.
Zugic, 25, of Thompson Close in Newport, pleaded guilty to possessing two knives in November last year.
Judge Martin Picton handed him a 12-month community order comprising of 200 hours' unpaid work.
Zugic was told to pay £400 court costs.
The judge told him: "This is a troubling story because the courts are very wary of people in public places with a knife.
"You need to appreciate the significance of it."
Zugic confirmed to Bristol Live that he had knives for outdoor pursuits.
Clare Fear, prosecuting, said Zugic produced a black lock knife when summoned by his operations manager.
Police found another knife in his car.
Catherine Spedding, defending, said her client enjoyed outdoor hobbies in which he took knives with him.
She said: "The weekend prior he had been on an outdoors weekend and he had taken a knife with him to do activities for a legitimate purpose.
"He has a secure box where he normally keeps those items."
Paul Cornelius, a probation officer, said: "I don't believe he had any malicious intent."
