A man who was found with an eight-inch blade in the waistband of his trousers in a Paisley street has been warned by a sheriff he could be facing jail.
Stefan Jano, 31, took an eight-inch kitchen knife from his friend’s house out to Gauze Street on March 18, after spending the night drinking.
Procurator fiscal depute Dana Barclay told Paisley Sheriff Court: “A witness and the accused where within the witness’s home address consuming alcohol throughout the night.
“As parties got ready to leave the property, the accused grabbed a black-handled kitchen knife.
“Around 7.20pm, a witness walking on Gauze Street observed the accused and his friend under the influence of alcohol.
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“He then saw the accused with a knife in the back of his jeans and then conceal it to the rear of his jeans.
“Police were flagged down and informed of what the witness had just observed and the events were caught on CCTV.
“Officers detained the accused and during a search, found a black-handled kitchen knife with an eight inch blade in the rear of the accused’s waistband.
“He was arrested and cautioned and charged and taken to Greenock police station where he was held custody to appear at court the next lawful day.”
Defence agent Gemma Elder told the court that since the incident, Jano has moved to live with his sister in Bristol.
Ms Elder reserved further mitigation for the preparation of reports.
Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: “I’m going to defer sentence for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report.
“Please don’t read anything into that, the focus is I’m legally bound to call for reports if I’m considering a prison sentence.
“And given you had an eight-inch blade down the back of your waistband in a public place is exactly what I am considering.”
Sheriff McGinty deferred sentencing for the preparation of reports with Jano of Previtt Street in Bristol being ordered to return to the town’s court on July 29.
Sheriff McGinty warned: “I do have an option to remand you in custody, but I’m not going to do that.
“However, if you don’t appear back here and when you ultimately do, I will remand you in custody at that time.”
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