Man took charge of life after knife rap

A youth caught with a knife in a Hamilton street has been praised by a sheriff for turning his life around.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard this week that Dylan Bulloch had not been in trouble since the incident in November 2019.

Bulloch, 20, of Loudon Hill, Hamilton, admitted carrying a knife in Fairhill Crescent while on bail for possession of a knuckle-duster.

Abby Seal, prosecuting, said police received an anonymous report about 9.30am of a youth standing in the middle of the road with a knife.

She stated: “Officers went to Fairhill Crescent and saw the accused standing with his hands in his pockets.

“He matched the description they had been given.

“He was with two other males and the handle of an object was protruding from his pocket.

“Bulloch looked over at the police vehicle and quickly went out of sight.

“He re-emerged and was seen to adjust his clothing.

“He was detained for a search and, although nothing was found on his person, a knife was recovered from the ground between a bin and the wall of a property.”

Bulloch claimed the knife, covered partially by a sheath, didn’t belong to him.

His solicitor, Paul Kavanagh, told the court: “He was with two or three other individuals.

“Someone passed him this item and he put it in his trousers.

“He accepts that it was in his possession, albeit fleetingly.”

Mr Kavanagh said Bulloch had benefited from court supervision imposed for possession of the knuckleduster.

The lawyer stated: “Since this knife offence he has not come to the attention of the authorities at all.

“The structured deferred sentence he received for the other matter has assisted him. He is now more mature.”

Sheriff Thomas Millar imposed a three-month electronic tagging order that prevents Bulloch leaving his home between 7pm and 7am each day.

The sheriff told him: “Reports indicate that this was a bad time for you, but you have moved on considerably and that is to your credit.

“Your life seems to have been turned around somewhat.”