Man caught with knife claimed it was for craftwork

A man caught with a knife in Fraserburgh told police he used it “to craft matchstick models”.

Kevin McBride had the lock knife in his pocket when stopped on Frithside Street on May 25.

The 40-year-old, of West Park in St Combs, had previous convictions for having weapons in public.

Nonetheless, he attempted to pass the blade off as an innocent mistake, telling two plain clothes officers of his whittling proficiency.

Fiscal Katie Begg yesterday told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that McBride had been “constantly looking around himself and was observed to loiter” by the officers who approached him, upon which “he immediately appeared to them to be nervous”.

When the officers searched him they found he had the lock knife in his front trouser pocket.

He later pleaded guilty to having “an article which had a blade” without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

Defence agent Jennifer Pritchard said her client “fully accepted” having the knife but claimed he had no sinister intentions.

She said: “He bought the craft knife from a pound shop to make matchstick models,” she said.

“He would normally use it for that. He completely forgot it was in his pocket.”

Sheriff Jack Brown, however, pointed out that the accused had two prior convictions for possession of a knife.

Sentence was deferred until November 23 for reports but the sheriff warned McBride he likely faces a custodial sentence.