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Repeat offender told 'carrying a knife is unacceptable' as he is jailed
A sheriff said: 'It can often lead to catastrophic harm and will not be tolerated.'
A repeat offender has been jailed for 22 months after a sheriff warned that knife-carrying 'won't be tolerated'.
Jay Smith, 31, of Duneaton Wynd, Larkhall, claimed he'd taken a blade from a pal who was threatening to self-harm.
But he was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week after admitting unlawful possession of a bladed item in McNeil Street, Larkhall, on April 20 last year.
The court heard police officers went to the area after reports of a man acting suspiciously.
Scott O'Connor, prosecuting, said: 'They observed the accused who appeared to be unsteady on his feet.
'He was detained for a search and disclosed to the officers that he had a knife. This was found in his jacket pocket.'
Defence agent Jackson Bateman said doing a friend a favour had got him into trouble.
Mr Bateman told the court: 'They were in a house and his friend threatened to self-harm.
'There was an argument and my client took the knife from him. He accepts he should then have put it in a bin instead of holding on to it.'
Smith has addiction issues and it was suggested social work supervision could help him.
But Sheriff John Speir told him: 'This is your third conviction for carrying a knife and social work say you are unsuitable for a community-based disposal.
'Previously you were given an eight-month electronic tagging order, which you breached, so I consider the only appropriate sentence is custody.
'Carrying a knife is unacceptable, particularly in this jurisdiction where there have been a number of recent attacks.
'It can often lead to catastrophic harm and will not be tolerated.'
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