Man tried to hide a knife in a pub

A serial offender tried to hide a knife in a Motherwell pub after police spotted him acting suspiciously in the street.

Henry Mcguiness, who has five previous convictions for carrying weapons, was jailed for 16 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.

He admitted unlawful possession of a knife in Merry Street on August 9 this year, only five days after getting bail at the same court for another matter.

Mcguiness, 49, was seen crouched over an electrical box around 5.30pm.

Abby Seal, prosecuting, told the court:“he was fidgeting with his pockets.

“Police officers approached and when he saw them the accused made off in the direction of Pollock Street.

“He then entered the Railway Tavern and went to a booth.

“Witnesses there said he was agitated and under the influence. They then noticed a knife on the floor.

“The police officers arrived and recovered a kitchen knife with a three-inch blade.”

Mcguiness claimed the knife wasn’t his.

Defence agent Elspeth Forrest said: “He had taken it from someone else, but knows he should not have had it.”

The solicitor said Mcguiness committed the offence shortly after a lengthy period in hospital.

She explained:“after being released from jail last year, he was sleeping rough.

“He got frostbite and as a result had all of his toes amputated.”

Sheriff Ray Small said Mcguiness’s record for knife crime meant another prison sentence was inevitable.

However, this was reduced from two years to 16 months because of his guilty plea and backdated as he has been in custody since August.