Knife thug jailed after he’s nabbed with two blades

Lout said he was taking them to police station

A knife- carrying yob with a violent past has been caged for 16 months.

Police caught thug, James Needham, 41, wandering through Johnstone armed with six-inch and five-inch blades.

The hoodlum yesterday admitted to brandishing the deadly weapons.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Needham, who has a string of previous violent convictions to his name, told officers he had found the kitchen knives and was on his way to hand them in to the police station.

Fiscal Keri Marshall told the court how cops followed the lout after they spotted on the street him looking suspicious.

She said: “At 4.20pm on Thursday March, 30, officers Crawford and Workman were on foot patrol in Johnstone town centre.

“They were walking down the High Street when they saw the accused enter a footpath in front of them.

“The accused appeared to recognise the officers, upon noticing them and he changed his direction to cross the road whilst looking back at the officers over his shoulder.

“Officers continued to follow the accused and approached him on Rankin Street as they rounded the corner.

“The accused stopped in front and began to walk towards the officers, at this point police identified themselves.

“After escorting the accused to the pavement and he said: ‘I just want to let you know I have these things,’ as he patted his hands on his left and right thighs,

“He then said: ‘I found them and was taking them to the police station.’

“The accused pulled up his jumper to reveal two knives sticking out of his right pocket.

“He was remanded and made no reply when cautioned and charged.”

Needham, who has nine previous convictions was banged up in Low Moss Prison awaiting trial.

His defence solicitor insisted that his client found the knives and had wanted to hand them into the police.

He said: “He did find the knives and consider taking them to the police station, he had them for around an hour – he accepts he shouldn’t have delayed in handing them in.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew claimed that if Needham had been en- route to the station when he was stopped by police, then it would have posed a different argument.

He said: “If I leave aside your last conviction you haven’t committed any serious offences since 2014.

“However, possession of two knives does give me case for conviction in someone who has a record for violence and a record for violence at a high court level.

“The consequences of people brandishing knives is seen often in our courts and our hospitals.

“It is within the public interest in this matter to impose a custodial sentence.”

Needham was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment discounted to 16 months backdated to March 31.