A serial offender was caught with a knife when police officers stopped him in an East Kilbride street in the early hours of the morning.
John Veitch, who had “no good reason” for carrying the blade, aroused suspicion when he turned away as the officers walked towards him.
Veitch, 31, of Muirhouse Lane, East Kilbride, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted illegal possession of a knife in Brouster Hill on July 8.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said the officers were on patrol at 3.50am when they saw Veitch walking towards them.
Mr Thomson told the court: “He was carrying a holdall. The officers noted that as soon as he became aware of their presence he did an about turn and began to walk in the opposite direction.
“This aroused their suspicion and they approached Veitch, took hold of him and searched him. They retrieved a knife with a blade of about 7.5cm from his jacket pocket.”
Veitch’s agent admitted his criminal record “does him no favours,” adding that he had been held in custody since his arrest on this charge.
The solicitor added: “There was no good reason for him having this knife. He has spent a large part of his adult life in prison and has problems with alcohol and depression.
“Around the time of this offence he had managed to get a temporary flat in Muirhouse Lane and he hopes to secure it on a full time basis.
“There have been court attempts in the past to help him with community payback orders and these have not been greatly successful.
“But he would welcome further assistance of this type.”
Sheriff Thomas Millar agreed to defer sentence for a criminal justice social work report “to see if there is any alternative to custody available”.
The sheriff also called for an electronic tagging assessment.
Veitch was remanded in custody until November 6.
