Man with knife hid under car

Blade carried in public place

A Dunblane man hid away from police underneath a parked car while in possession of a knife due to a “lack of consequential thinking”.

Daniel Watson (24) was found with the blade while on Charles Street on September 4 last year.

The Springfield Court resident appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court this week and was hit with supervision and an unpaid work order.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks said that at around 2.45am on the morning of the incident police were called to an address on Charles Street after an anonymous complaint was made about people banging on a window.

Officers arrived at the scene and a short time later found Watson hiding beneath a parked car on the street nearby.

Ms Brooks explained that as he rolled out and stood up his t-shirt lifted and the officers saw that he had a cheese knife tucked into his waistband.

He promptly dropped it to the ground and was arrested, before later being taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital after admitting that he had consumed drugs and alcohol.

Defence solicitor Ken Dalling said that Watson had been at his uncle’s house, on Charles Street, socialising with family.

He said that people had been taking turns at throwing the knife at a kitchen door and the accused ended up in possession of the blade, so tucked it away in his waistband.

While he was outside for a cigarette and, while in the curtilage of the house, became aware of the police.

Mr Dalling added: “A lack of consequential thinking resulted in him removing himself from the private place and putting himself in a public place.”

After being found by officers beneath the vehicle he surrendered the blade.

Sheriff William Gilchrist imposed supervision for 12 months with an alcohol and drug treatment conduct requirement, and a requirement that he cannot enter his uncle’s home.

He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work in the next six months.

Sheriff Gilchrist told him: “You now have a fulltime job and a partner who is expecting a child soon.

“The report suggests that you are trying to turn your life around.

“Clearly not being under the influence of alcohol and Valium in the future is important if you are to avoid further offending.”