Thug had axe in his trousers on night out
Wallace’s ‘ tools of the trade’ claim
An armed thug was jailed for wearing an axe in his waistband during a busy night out in Prestwick.
Marc Wallace, 32, declared to police officers it was “tools of the trade” when they handcuffed him in the Main Street.
Wallace, denied being in possession of an axe, assaulting a police officer and throwing a bicycle around at an Ayr Sheriff Court trial last week.
He was spotted with the weapon under his jacket in the taxi queue in the early hours of July 1, the court heard.
Wallace, of Briarhill Road, Prestwick also threw a bike over a woman’s head as she sat on a wall it was claimed.
Police officer David Murdoch raced to the scene from Troon responding to reports of Wallace being armed.
He told the court: “We traced the male sitting on a wall opposite the search in a cell.
Lawyer Gregor Forbes said force had been applied to his clients’ groin area during the struggle. PC Murdoch denied it. There were about four police officers in a cell with Wallace.
The court heard Wallace repeatedly told another officer to f*** off.
Wallace had made threats of violence and fast straps had to used because he was kicking off.
Mr Forbes argued that his client may have kicked PC Murdoch accidentally.
Wallace was found guilty of having an axe in Prestwick, Main Street.
He was also found guilty of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, acting aggresively, kicking a bicyle and throwing it around the roadway.
A third charge that he kicked PC David Murdoch on the head was found not proven.
Wallace was jailed for nine months.