A Larkhall man caught carrying a knife claimed he’d taken it from a pal who was threatening to self-harm.
Jay Smith, 30, of Duneaton Wynd, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted unlawful possession of a bladed item in McNeil Street, Larkhall, on April 20 last year.
The court heard police officers went to the area after reports of a man acting suspiciously.
Scott O’Connor, prosecuting, said: “They observed the accused who appeared to be unsteady on his feet.
“He was detained for a search and disclosed to the officers that he had a knife. This was found in his jacket pocket.”
Smith has a previous conviction for carrying a knife in public, but defence agent Jackson Bateman said doing a friend a favour had got him into trouble on this occasion.
Mr Bateman told the court: “They were in a house and his friend threatened to self-harm.
“There was an argument and my client took the knife from him. He accepts he should then have put it in a bin instead of holding on to it.”
Sheriff John Speir deferred sentence until next month for background reports and continued Smith’s bail.
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