A man has been blasted by a sheriff after being found to be in possession of a knife in Braehead shopping centre.
Lewis Piggott claimed he “forgot” that a knife was in his trouser pocket while he walked around Braehead shopping centre on October 24, 2020.
The procurator fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 5.15pm on Saturday, October 24, 2020, police were on patrol in Braehead Shopping Centre.
“Officers were informed by a staff member in a store that there were three males acting suspiciously. Upon police attendance at the store, the three males left and walked off in separate directions.
“Around 5.30pm officers traced the accused in the car park and he was spoken to regarding his suspicious conduct. Information passed on to police from security staff stated the accused placed something in his trouser pocket.
“As a result of this, officers detained the accused for a search in case of shoplifting. During the search, the accused stated, ‘I’ve got a knife in my pocket.’
“Officers recovered the knife which was a silver and brown handled lock knife and when asked for a reasonable explanation he stated, ‘I forgot it was there.’
“He was cautioned and charged at Govan police station where he was held in custody to appear in this court.”
Defence agent Gemma Elder explained how the dad of a two-year-old simply “forgot” the knife was in his pocket.
Ms Elder said it was a work tool and he had been careless on this particular day.
“This was an implement he used at work and he simply forgot to leave it at work or in a safe place,” she said. “He understands this was careless and that he shouldn’t have had it in a public place.
“This shift was a shorter shift than normal that didn’t require all of his tools so his usual practice of putting tools back in his tool box was disturbed. He accepts he should have known better.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill said: “You were walking around the area of Braehead shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon with a knife in your pocket, in any view, that is a serious matter.
Sheriff Gill imposed a “direct alternative” to custody, ordering Piggott to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work in the community.
In addition, Piggott, of Inverkip Road in Greenock, was placed under supervision of the social work department for 12 months.
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