Prison for knife thug who said he wanted to stab police officers

A lout caught armed with a two- fingered punch dagger has been locked up for 16 months - and will be under supervision for another eight months on his release.

Dylan Elliott, 22, told cops: “It’s no a knife, it’s a stabber,” when he was stopped in Paisley town centre.

Elliot even claimed he was carrying the weapon because he had been accused of rape.

The accused appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court for sentencing this week after pleading guilty to charges of possession of a bladed item in a public place, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in that he shouted and swore and uttered abusive remarks to police officers, and these remarks were aggravated by prejudice against sexual orientation.

Prosecutor Keri Marshall said: “At around 3am on May 4 this year, police officers were in New Street, Paisley, and were actioned to stop the accused.

“They saw him concealing an item in the left hand side of his jeans waist and so decided to search the accused.

“During the search, an item fell to the ground from the accused’s left hand trouser leg.

“Police observed this item to be a two-fingered punch dagger.

“At this time, the accused said to officers, ‘It’s a stabber. It’s only two inches. It’s no a knife.’

“He was arrested and taken to Govan Police Station.”

The court heard it was during the journey that Elliott told cops he only had the blade on him because he had been accused of rape.

The prosecutor added: “When being conveyed to the station the accused stated, ‘I am wanted down in Greenock for a f*****g rape,’ and added, ‘Folk are after me. I need to carry a blade.’

The court heard Elliott flipped out at officers while in custody.

The fiscal added: “He was being verbally abusive and became extremely aggressive.

“He said he wanted to stab police officers and at one point was calling them ‘p*** s’ ‘ f***** s’ and ‘paedophiles’.”

Sentencing had been deferred for background reports, especially evaluating his risk of getting into trouble again.

Defence agent Bob Kerr said: “Offending analysis reveals he has been convicted each year from 2013-2017, with a gap in 2018-19 during which he was on remand.

“His previous offences include serious assault with a knife, and one with an imitation firearm, which proved to be a BB gun.

“One with a metal pole turned to be the metal shaft from an umbrella.

“I don’t think he is a seriously violent offender, however, he can behave like an idiot.

“When he takes drugs and drinks, he simply makes bad choices.”

Sheriff Frances McCartney said there was only one sentence suitable in the circumstances and handed him 16 months behind bars, with eight months of supervision on his release.