A GREENOCK man who admitted to carrying a knife in the town centre was spared jail only after a last minute change of heart from the sheriff.

Jordan Moore, of Inverkip Road, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon hidden in his body warmer.

The court heard the 32-year-old was delivering a prescription for a relative when he came to the attention of police officers at 10.15am on Cathcart Street, Greenock.

 Sheriff James Varney was all set to send him to jail for carrying the weapon on July 1, 2023, but was persuaded to look at alternatives instead by his defence lawyer.

Procurator fiscal Maria Murdoch said: "He was stopped by police officers at the locus, under section 23 of the misuse of drugs act.

"He was conveyed to the police station and was told he was going to be subject to a full search. The accused at this stage says he has a knife on his person.

"The knife was recovered from his body warmer that he was wearing."

In his defence, David Tod asked the sheriff to call for reports to look at an alternative to prison for Moore, who was on bail.

He added: "He was unaware that he had the knife in his body warmer until he got to the police station.

"His last offence was in 2020 apart from a road traffic offence. He has not been arrested for anything else while on bail.

"He has sorted issues out, has a drug worker and suffered a family bereavement.

"He had to take on responsibilities and certainly has a different attitude to what he had before. 

"There was no suggestion that there was any intention to use the knife in all fairness. It is the first time he has been found in possession of a knife.

"I think this could dealt with in some other way rather than custody."

But Sheriff Varney was adamant that he would go ahead with a custodial sentence when Moore appeared at his first diet on Tuesday, October 8.

Sheriff Varney said: "His record is significant and he has quite a record for assaults, I am minded to dispose of this today with a custodial sentence."

The defence lawyer for the accused was then given another to chance plead his case.

Mr Tod added: "He has not been in trouble for three years, I really don't think a prison sentence would serve any purpose right now.

"Mr Moore has now taken on the tenancy of his mother's house. He would come out of prison and be homeless."

In the end Sheriff Varney said: "Mr Tod has persuaded me to call for reports when it would have been a custody sentence given your record."

A plea of not guilty to resisting arrest and struggling violently with officers was accepted. 

The sheriff called for criminal justice social work report as well as a restriction of liberty order, with sentence deferred on Moore until November 18.