A Paisley dad has been fined over £1,000 after being caught with a knife in a public place – claiming he was using it to try keep a door open.
Steven Gibson, of Causeyside Street, insisted his close door wasn’t working properly and so he tried to use a knife to keep it open while he went to the shop for four cans of Stella Artois.
However, the blade wasn’t thick enough to hold the door open and closed over.
Rather than leave the knife in the house, Gibson admitted he “foolishly” took the large silver-bladed weapon to the shop with him in his trouser waistband.
Procurator fiscal depute David Gallagher told Paisley Sheriff Court that, around 5.30pm on January 12, 2020, witness Ms McLenaghan was returning home when she parked her car on Causeyside Street and spotted Gibson.
Mr Gallagher explained: “The witness noted Gibson holding a large knife in his left hand in plain sight, making no attempt to disguise it. She observed the knife to have a brown handle and a large silver blade.
“McLenaghan observed Gibson cross both lanes of traffic walking towards the Stop and Shop convenience store on the opposite side of Causeyside Street.
“Gibson approached the front door of the shop and the witness observed him put the knife down the back of his trouser waistband and she was still able to see the brown handle sticking out the top of his trousers.”
The court heard Gibson entered the shop and picked up his cans. Mr Gallagher added: “Gibson makes his way towards the till and attempted to purchase the lager, but due to not having any money he was refused and Gibson left the store. The shopkeeper noted the brown handle sticking out of Gibson’s trousers.
“As Gibson left the shop and made his way back across Causeyside Street, the witness McLenaghan observed him to reach round to the rear of his trousers and pull out the knife and, as he approached the front door common close, Gibson uses the knife to strike the lock of the door.
“McLenaghan contacted the police and officers attended a short time later.”
Defence agent Terry Gallanagh told the court the reason the 36-year-old was in possession of an offensive weapon was because there was a “problem with his close door”.
He said: “Gibson intended to go to the shops and foolishly took this item to wedge the door of the close open but the gap at the bottom of the door and the width of the knife meant the door swung over it.
“Now rather than leave it, he foolishly took it with him. He didn’t want to leave it lying about and only went a short distance.
“He went to the shop for four cans of beer, realised he didn’t have his wallet and at no point did he take it out in the store – he left and he went home and thought nothing more of it until police arrived.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Bruce Erroch KC said: “An offence such as carrying an offensive weapon such as a knife can attract a prison sentence.”
Sheriff Erroch KC took a step back from custody, imposing a “significant financial penalty” – ordering Gibson to pay a fine of £1,200. The offshore worker was ordered to pay his fine at the rate of £200 per month.
Sheriff Erroch KC stated: “I trust that will be a lesson to you.”
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