A yob caught with a blade fastened to his pants told police there was a £10,000 bounty on his head.
Craig Howie, 27, was nabbed with the lockback after being searched by cops.
He claimed he had a £10,000 bounty on his head and fumed: “It’s for protection — I s*****d some guy’s bird.”
Howie earlier admitted possession of the weapon during a hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Sheriff David Pender warned he would not receive another chance to stay out of prison.
He said: “The court is very much concerned about young men carrying knives because they are inclined to use them.
“I get the impression you are not a thug and that this offence was committed more through stupidity.
“I am prepared to give you a chance. This is a direct alternative to custody.”
Howie was stopped by officers in Renfrew’s Andrew Avenue.
He was patted down, but the blade was not immediately found.
The lout was taken to the police station.
He admitted he had the weapon before a second sweep around 3.15am on August 25 last year.
Howie already has a conviction for knife possession.
Prosecutor Keri Marshall told how he was arrested in the street.
She said: “A search was carried out at the scene.
“No items of note were found prior to the accused being placed in the back of marked cell van.
“He was taken to Greenock police office. He was processed in the normal manner. He was informed he would be subject to a full
search.
“At this time, he was asked if he had anything sharp in his possession.
“He replied, ‘I am going to need to show you this’.
“He lifted up the front of his T-shirt and allowed police to see a grey lockback knife.
“The knife was closed and was attached to the front of his boxer shorts, held on by a small clip.
“He openly stated, while under caution, ‘It’s for my protection as folk are after me. There’s 10 grand on my head as I s*****d some guy’s bird’.”
The court heard Howie was quizzed by social workers regarding the offence before his sentencing hearing.
Experts were left unimpressed and claimed he could carry a knife again.
His solicitor dismissed the findings.
Defence lawyer Tony Callahan revealed his client had started a new relationship and insisted he was trying to better his life.
He said: “He’s applied for a college placement doing an HNC in electrical engineering.
“There have been issues with his mental health.
“It has stabilised to some degree. He suffers from anxiety and depression.
“Last year, he was stabbed three times. It was quite a traumatic experience.
“He started to misbehave and use drugs. He accepts when the offence was committed he was using cocaine and had a dalliance with heroin.
“He was suffering from a high degree of paranoia.”
The offender was placed under supervision for 18 months.
Howie, of Springbank Road, Paisley, has also been ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work within nine months.
