20 months in prison for man with knives

A Perth man, caught with two knives - one of them while he waited for a bus at the city’s park and ride - was jailed for a total of 20 months at the sheriff court.

The court heard that 29-year-old Dayne Cairns, of Campsie Road, had managed to stay out of trouble since 2012, despite a history of drug difficulties.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told him:“It’s very unfortunate you have come before the court after such a significant gap.

“You have done well despite your ongoing problems.

“But given the nature of the offences - and your record - irrespective of the excuses you have offered, the only sentence I can impose is a custodial one.”

Cairns admitted having a lock knife in his possession at St Catherine’s Square, Perth, on September 17 last year.

He was also caught with a second blade - this time a Stanley knife - at the Broxden transport hub on June 10 this year.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said police were on uniformed patrol about 2pm last September when they were alerted to a theft from a local charity shop.

A male, matching the description of the suspect, was traced near the scene.

And when he was spoken to by officers, he “began acting evasively,” explained the fiscal.

“He was told he would be searched for stolen property and was then asked if he had anything sharp in his possession which may harm officers during the search.

“He then voluntarily produced a lock knife from his jacket pocket.”

When cautioned and charged, he replied:“I was just taking it back to my house.”

The second incident took place at the Broxden park and ride shortly before 4pm on June 10.

Police were informed that a man and woman may be in possession of controlled drugs as they waited on a bus.

They were then searched but no drugs were discovered on either person.

But an orangecoloured Stanley knife was recovered from the accused’s left-hand jacket pocket.

He was cautioned and charged and replied:“I needed the knife to fix my mum’s leather bag which was broken, as you can see.

“I was going to fix the strap.”

Solicitor Jamie Baxter said his client had voluntarily produced the first blade and there was no suggestion that either weapon had been brandished.

He had used the lock knife earlier that day to open a box at his home, had put it in his pocket and hadn’t realised it was there when he went out.

The Stanley knife had been given to him by his mother, who was with him at the park and ride, in an effort to fix the strap on her bag.

Mr Baxter added:“He has had a history of drug issues throughout his life and that has led to the vast majority of his offending behaviour.”

The jail term was backdated to June 11 when Cairns was first remanded.