A KNIFE-CARRYING thug has been jailed — for his FOURTH weapons conviction.

Stephen Bonnar, 26, was caught with a blade as he walked with his girlfriend in the Larkfield area of Greenock.

He was slammed in court for his ‘appalling record’ by Sheriff Ruth Anderson.

She jailed him for a total of 32 months for his latest offence.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how Bonnar, currently a prisoner at Low Moss jail, had removed a knife from his pocket and thrown it to the ground when he was approached by police officers.

The weapon was described as a brown-handled kitchen knife with a three-inch blade.

Depute fiscal John Penman said: “Two officers were on a plain clothes police patrol in the Larkfield area at around 7.10pm.

“They approached the accused and identified themselves.

“The accused reached into his tracksuit bottoms and a kitchen knife was thrown to the ground, which was retrieved by the officers.” Defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher said his client had taken the knife from his girlfriend’s home.

He added: “He suffers from paranoia.” Bonnar pled guilty to being in possession of the weapon while in York Road on 13 July.

As well as multiple weapons convictions it was revealed that Bonnar has two convictions for severe assault to injury.

Sheriff Anderson told him that the offence merited the maximum four-year prison sentence.

However this was discounted because of his early plea.

She told him: “You have an appalling record.”