Blades stashed in woman’s handbag were for ‘drugs’

Cops discovered weapons after receiving a tip-off

A woman caught with two Stanley blades in her handbag claimed they were for preparing drugs.

Susan MacNeil, 30, was found carrying the weapons by cops in Paisley’s County Square following a tip-off.

The town’s sheriff court also heard that, during another incident, MacNeil was found hiding in a cupboard by cops at a house in Douglas Street, Paisley, where she gave officers a false name and date of birth.

However, when cops returned to her home the following morning with a warrant, MacNeil kicked off at officers, shouting, swearing and making threats of violence, as she was being placed under arrest.

Fiscal depute Megan Clancy explained that, on July 17, 2017, officers were alerted to MacNeil in County Square and told her they were going to search her handbag.

She added: “They recovered two Stanley blades from within the handbag. The accused was cautioned and charged.”

The fiscal added that, on September 4, last year, police visited her property to execute a warrant, where they found her hiding in a kitchen cupboard beneath the sink.

She added: “Police asked her name and she replied she was Sharon Laughlin and gave a date of birth of November 30, 1987. She refused to say why she was hiding from police.”

Cops made enquiries at Paisley police office and discovered her real identity, and that she was wanted on a warrant.

The following day, they arrested her at the same address, when she kicked off at the officers.

Ms Clancy said: “She was shouting and swearing at police.

“On the way to the common close, she kicked out, striking a police officer on the right thigh.

“She was taken to Greenock police office, but continued to shout, swear and make threats at officers.”

MacNeil admitted to being in possession of two Stanley blades, to pretending to police that she was Sharon Laughlin, and to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in that she shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence.

Defence agent Ki r s t y McGeehan said: “The blades were in her handbag for preparing her drugs. She forgot they were in her handbag.

“When police were looking for her, she gave a false name. There was a warrant for her arrest — that is the explanation. It does not excuse her, but explains why she did it.

“When police attended to execute the warrant, she was in a state of undress and behaved in the manner described.”

Sheriff Tom McCartney said he considered locking her up given the “gravity of the offence”.

But he decided to give her one last chance with a sentence as “an alternative to custody”.

He handed her a Community Payback Order comprising of 18 months of supervision and 160 hours of unpaid work, which she will complete within six months.