Knife found on teenager
Police searching a teenager for drugs in Bothwell found he had a knife – which he claimed was used to cut cannabis.
Jordan Stevenson, a prisoner at Polmont, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday. He admitted possession of a blade and a small amount of cannabis in Woodlands Crescent while on bail on October 2 last year.
Paula Russell, prosecuting, said officers were carrying out door-to-door enquiries in relation to a separate matter when they saw Stevenson (19) standing on the footpath.
They spoke to him and could smell cannabis, so they decided to search him.
A lockback knife with a three-inch blade was recovered from his back pocket.
Defence agent Matthew Mcgovern insisted his client had the blade only to cut cannabis.
The court heard Stevenson is serving a 16-month sentence imposed in November for assaults in Bothwell and his earliest date of release is July 20.
Mr Mcgovern said his client, who suffers from autism, has had a difficult background, adding: “He is easily led and got in with the wrong crowd. That’s led to him making a series of poor decisions.
“He has the continued support of his family and the sooner he is back with them the better. He will be able to address his issues such as drugs, mental health lack of employment.”
Sheriff Ray Small deferred sentence until June 18. He told Stevenson: “This was a very small knife and it might be correct that it was used to cut cannabis, but it is still illegal.
“You are currently serving a sentence and I am not minded at this stage to add to that. If reports show you can be managed safely in the community you might get a community-based sentence when you get out of Polmont in July.” and