Man found with cocaine and black-handled knife in car

A FORMER mechanic was found with cocaine and a knife in his car.

Ian Bonar, 53, was found with the items in Glasgow’s Bridgeton on March 3 this year. The dad told police officers he used the blade to “open letters”.

Bonar pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to having a knife in a public place without a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

He also admitted possession of a controlled Class A drug. The court heard police were alerted to Bonar’s car as there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from it. Bonar was stopped and the car was found to contain two passengers.

The three people and the car were then searched by the officers.

Prosecutor Sat Singh said: “Recovered from the centre console was a bag containing white powder which was 6.7g of cocaine. Also recovered under the floor was a black-handled knife. While under caution, Bonar was asked why he had that in the vehicle and he said he used it to open letters.”

Gerry Sweeney, defending, told the court Bonar’s son was to blame for the smell of cannabis.

The lawyer added: “In terms of the knife, that is his position.

“He is a man who had success running his own mechanic business in Glasgow but he fell into difficulties because of cocaine. He suffered the courts in relation to that and he lost his business. He regained employment and works for a specialist industrial cleansing outfit and is highly regarded.”

Sheriff Amel Elfallah ordered Bonar, of Glasgow, to do 162 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for 18 months.

She said: “It is always concerning when drugs and knives appear in the same place. I will accept your position as to why you had the item in your car but it is not an excuse.”