A Mintlaw man was given a 30-hour community payback order for being caught with a weapon.
John McKenzie, 37, was carrying a knuckle duster when he was picked up by police on December 21 at Maconachie Road, Fraserburgh.
When officers charged him he told them: “It wasn’t mine”.
However, he admitted being in possession of the weapon when he appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday.
Solicitor Sam Milligan had earlier entered a not guilty plea on McKenzie’s behalf, however the plea was changed when the case called again later in the day.
Mr Milligan told Sheriff Andrew Miller: “He had been in the pub earlier that evening. His nephew was under the weather and he had this weapon. Mr McKenzie removed it from him.
“It is a matter of minutes later – an hour – that he is caught with this weapon.”
Jobless McKenzie, of 62 Burnside Road, Mintlaw, was given four months to complete the unpaid work.
Sheriff Miller warned him he would be back in court if he failed to abide by the community payback order.
“It is an offence to have possession of an item of this kind which had only one purpose,” he said.
“Instead of imposing a fine, which I think would normally be appropriate, I am going to impose a different kind of order. If you fail to carry out the work allocated to you, you will be reported back to the court.”
