Paisley Daily Express

Armed lout told search cops hidden blade wasn’t a knife

- RON MOORE

A yob caught armed with a blade told cops: “It’s no a knife, it’s a stabber.”

Dylan Elliott, 22, even claimed he was carrying the weapon, described as a two- fingered punch dagger, because he had been accused of rape.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Elliott was stopped by police officers in the town’s New Street in the early hours of the morning.

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.’

“When cautioned and charged, he said ‘F*** it. I will take it on the chin.’”

However, the court heard Elliott became foul- mouthed and abusive to officers while in custody.

Ms Marshall added: “The accused’s demeanour was erratic.

“He began shouting and swearing at officers.

“He calmed down.

“Then began shouting and swearing again.

“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’.”

Yesterday, Elliott appeared from custody, where he pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a bladed article in a public place, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

He also admitted behaving in a threatenin­g and abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm in that he shouted and swore and uttered abusive remarks to police officers, and these remarks were aggravated by prejudice against sexual orientatio­n.

A defence agent said: “Mr Elliott had difficulti­es in the local community.

“Allegation­s had been levelled against him, but these resulted in his unanimous acquittal.

“Stupidly, he had taken the item with him.

“He accepts it was wholly unacceptab­le and is aware that a custodial sentence is inevitable.”

The lawyer added that Elliott’s clothes had been removed while in custody and that is why he had showered police with the homophobic remarks.

Sheriff Frances McCartney said she was deferring sentence on Elliott to call for a Criminal Justice Social Work Report and an assessment for a Supervised Release Order.

He was remanded in custody and will discover his fate on August 28.

The accused said to officers, ‘It’s a stabber. It’s only two inches. It’s no a knife’.

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