Homeless man had knife in bag

A homeless man turned up at council headquarters with “all his worldly possessions”in a black bin liner.

But unknown to 45-year-old Carlos Santos, who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, a black kitchen knife fell from a hole in the bag.

A council employee picked it up and contacted the police, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

The accused was later traced and when cautioned and charged, he insisted:“I wouldn’t use a knife.”

It led to him being ordered to complete 50 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to having the blade in the Perth and Kinross Council offices in Kinnoull Street, Perth, on November 16, last year.

Depute fiscal Mairi Graham said Santos had arrived at the council building in the “hope of finding himself new accommodation.”

She added:“He was drowsy, slurring his words and was difficult to understand.”

He went outside for a cigarette and returned with the bin liner.

Santos, of the

Skinnergate Resettlement Unit in Perth, also had a further 50-hour community payback order imposed after he forced open a locker and stole equestrian equipment from New Farm, Errol, on September 29 last year.

The building was used to store saddles, stirrups and other items, explained the fiscal.

Santos – and two former co-accused were caught red-handed loading articles into the boot of a Ford Mondeo.

The equipment, valued at £2800, was all recovered.

A red ledger, containing several letters concerning the accused, was found next to the shed.

Solicitor David Holmes said that Santos previously worked for the owner of the equestrian equipment and claimed he hadn’t been paid his wages.

He was also in a “desperate state”when he arrived at the council HQ.

Imposing the two community payback orders as an alternative to fines, Sheriff Keith O’Mahony also ordered the knife to be forfeited.