A Thurso man with previous convictions for violence was jailed for six months yesterday for possessing a knife in public.
Paul Fairweather, of Holburn Avenue, had the weapon reasonable excuse in Mackintosh Road, Inverness, on March 24.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that police stopped and searched the 31-year-old because they suspected him of theft.
A knife fell from his pocket and he was arrested.
Defence solicitor George Mathers said his client had used the blade to cut flooring for his sister and had forgotten it was there.
He added that Fairweather was at pains to stress it was not there for criminal purpose, adding: “The irony was that he was in legitimate possession of the items the police thought had been stolen.”
