Inverness man with ‘drugs debts’ carried knives for ‘own protection’
A sheriff decided against jailing a drug user who told police he carried knives for "my own protection" and placed him under one year of social work supervision to "support him on his release from remand".
Joshua Sykes, of Springfield Gardens, Inverness was stopped in the city twice by officers in June and September last year and on both occasions he was carrying a weapon.
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Inverness Sheriff Court heard one was a black-handled kitchen knife with a five inch blade and the other a locknife which had a total length of eight-and-a-half inches.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald was told that Sykes was stopped in the Merkinch area on June 4 and a knife was found in his trouser pocket.
Then on September 9, Sykes was seen on a bicycle in Railway Terrace, Inverness, appeared to be under the influence and was fidgeting with his waistband.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told the court that he was again searched and the locknife was found tucked into his underwear. "He told police: 'I was carrying them for my own protection. You's wouldn't understand, I have drugs debts."
Sentence had been deferred on the 26-year-old for a background report and defence solicitor Natalie Paterson said: "It is in relatively positive terms. He has been on remand since September 10 which is the equivalent of a 12-month sentence.
"During that time he has taken steps to address the issues he was facing and he has a job waiting on his release."
Sykes, who appeared by video link after previously admitting illegal possession of knives in a public place without reasonable excuse, was told the sentence was an alternative to prison.
Sheriff Macdonald said: "It might be better to impose a community payback order and hopefully it will prevent you from re-offending."
