A drunken yob caught with a locking knife told cops he had been helping his mate fit a carpet.
John Fletcher, 60, was spotted staggering around with his pal in the town’s Ferguslie Park area at around 5.15pm.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard officers on patrol swooped on the pair and found the weapon in Fletcher’s inside pocket.
Procurator fiscal depute Kara Watt told the court: “Police officers were on mobile patrol and they observed the accused and another male.
“They appeared to be under the influence of something and police officers decided they had reason to detain them.
“They searched the accused and recovered a black-handled locking knife from the inside pocket of his jacket.
“The accused told police, ‘I was at his house helping him with a carpet. I know I shouldn’t have taken it out with me down to the shops’.”
He was cautioned and charged, but made no reply.
Yesterday Fletcher, of Ferguslie Park, pleaded guilty to having the knife at Blackstoun Oval on June 30, last year.
Defence agent Charlie McCusker admitted his client has “an interesting record”, but added that Fletcher told cops right away why he had the blade on him.
He was previously convicted of assault and robbery more than 30 years ago.
And he was fined £675 in 2018 after his pet Staffie savaged his neighbour in his garden in a brutal attack.
Mr McCusker explained the circumstances of the blade arrest.
He said: “He had just left his pal’s house. His name is McDermott.
“He had been helping him with a carpet.
“Both of them had imbibed after work.
“Police stopped him and he told police immediately why he had the knife.”
The lawyer added Fletcher had told the social work department the exact same thing that he told police when he was arrested, therefore had “maintained his position throughout”.
He added: “He is a man of 60 and knows it is a serious matter.
“He had a reason for having the knife on him, but he knows it is not an excuse for it.”
Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill told him: “You were caught with a knife in a public place at 5.15pm.
“You made an explanation to police about why you had the knife and you have insisted that is the position.”
She placed him on a restriction of liberty order for four months, requiring him to wear a tag and remain indoors between 8pm to 7am each day.
