Court / Man admits possessing lock knife

A MAN from Lerwick has had his sentence deferred after admitting possessing a lock knife in public.

Scott Henry, of Hill Grind, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court from custody on Friday to admit carrying the item without reasonable excuse or lawful authority on the town’s Ladies Drive on Thursday (29 November).

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the offence came to light when police searched the 32-year-old on a drugs related matter.

Henry told officers that he might have a work knife on him and that he had cut it down to be less than three inches in length.

It is not an offence to possess a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade does not exceed three inches, but it is an offence to carry a lock knife.

Mackenzie said by cutting down the length of the knife he “clearly made attempts to effectively pre-empt” a police search, and he said he was not convinced that the knife was used for work.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client did not know the locking mechanism on the knife would be illegal.

Honorary sheriff Willie Shannon deferred the matter for social work reports until 16 January and bailed Henry with a 10pm-7am curfew at the request of Mackenzie.

He also agreed to a crown request to forfeit the knife.