A Hamilton grandfather caught with an illegal pepper spray claimed he picked it up in the street thinking it was a hair product.
John Allison was stopped by police officers in the early hours of the morning.
Pepper spray is used by the police and is often marketed as a self-defence tool, but possession is illegal under the UK's firearms laws.
Allison, 45, of Roseberry Place, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court today (Friday).
He admitted possessing the spray in Sutherland Crescent, Hamilton, on July 26, 2020.
Allison was on four bail orders at the time.
The court heard that police received an anonymous call around 2am stating a man in black clothing was acting suspiciously.
Officers attended and saw Allison who matched the description they had been given.
Abby Seal, prosecuting, said: "There appeared to be items bulging within his pockets. He was searched and a can of pepper spray was found in the pocket of his jogging bottoms. He was charged and made no reply."
Allison denied that he had been acting suspiciously.
Defence agent Jackson Bateman told the court: "He had gone to his mother's address after hearing she had taken unwell.
"He was returning home when the police saw him.
"His position is that his possession of the spray was fleeting. He found it on the ground and picked it up, thinking it was hairspray.
"He was going to give it to his partner."
Mr Bateman said an expert report revealed this type of spray "could easily be bought by a member of the public on the Internet".
Allison, he added, is currently being assessed for a drug treatment and testing order in another case.
Sheriff Liam Murphy deferred sentence until next month for a criminal justice social work report and an electronic tagging assessment.
Allison was allowed to remain on bail.
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