Sneak thief is caged for his fourth knife rap

A sneak thief caught armed with a blade after breaking into a car has been caged for 20 months.

Mason McKenzie, 20, who notched up his fourth knife conviction, claimed he only had the lockback Stanley knife on him for “picking my nails.”

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the hooded prowler smashed the window of a Mercedes parked at Moorpark Square, Renfrew, setting off the car alarm.

However McKenzie, who was wearing a distinctive green jacket, was then spotted rummaging around inside the vehicle by witness Robert McGuire.

He called police who traced McKenzie to nearby Sandy Road where officers found him armed with the weapon.

He appeared from custody for sentencing after pleaded guilty to charges of breaking into a vehicle and to being in possession of a sharply bladed item, namely a knife, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

Fiscal depute Ker i Marshall said: “Around 2am on October 24, the witness Mr McGuire was in his front bedroom when he heard the car alarm from outside.

“On looking out the window he saw his son’s vehicle, a black Mercedes, was parked on the roadway outside and the car alarm had been activated.

“The front passenger window had been smashed and he saw the accused leaning into the vehicle through the passenger window.

“He appeared to be rummaging through the central console.”

She added when police found him after scouring the streets: “They detained the accused and during a search discovered a lockback Stanley knife which they recovered from his left hand trouser pocket.

“He was asked why he was carrying it, and he said: ‘It was to pick my nails.’”

Defence agent Michael McKeown saidMcKenzie, only released from jail six days before he was caught, had gone off the rails after a fight with his girlfriend.

The court heard it is McKenzie’s fourth conviction for carrying knives or offensive weapons.

The lawyer said: “He had been abstaining from substance abuse, but regrettably he had fallen out with his girlfriend, and following that he was misusing Valium.

“He has very little recollection of matters thereafter. Substance misuse presents a significant problem.

“When under the influence he acts in a manner which he doesn’t normally.”

Mr McKeown added McKenzie, who had been blighted by a troubled childhood, pleaded guilty to the offence at earliest opportunity.

Sheriff Seith Ireland, who called for reports before sentencing him, said: “There is no disposal appropriate other than a custodial one, given the gravity of the offence and given your record.

“As a young man, this is your fourth conviction for having offensive weapons.”

He jailed him for 20 months and made him subject to a supervised release order for 10 months on his release.