Man arrested with kitchen knife was keeping it for home, court hears

A Polish man found in possession of a kitchen knife during a struggle with police was keeping it because he “did not have much cutlery” at home, Lerwick Sheriff Court heard.

Piotr Lange, 40, of Scotshall Court, Lerwick, said he had discovered the black-handled knife during a drinking session at the weekend and decided to keep it for “domestic purposes”.

Police found the knife on him after he became involved in a scuffle with them in the early hours of Sunday morning on Commercial Street. He was taken into custody and appeared before Sheriff Graeme Napier on Monday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Lange had been arrested for his behaviour. During the arrest he was put to the ground and one of the officers saw him reach for the knife in his jacket.

“Clearly it’s concerning that he made an attempt to retrieve the knife during the course of his arrest,” he said.

Defence agent Chris Dowle said Lange, who works as a ferry terminal cleaner, had found the knife and intended to take it home with him.

“My client found the knife early that evening and intended to keep it for domestic purposes, because he did not have much cutlery and other household items in his flat,” he said.

“It appears he had been drinking that evening and that has clouded his judgement as regards leaving the knife where he found it.”

Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence until 26th August for reports to be compiled. He allowed Lange bail, but with the added condition that he obey a night time curfew at weekends.

Meanwhile, a man accused of stealing from the Tesco supermarket was ordered to stay away from the store when he appeared before the sheriff.

Stephen Burnett, 44, of Haldane Burgess Crescent, Lerwick, denied stealing soft drinks and washing-up powder at the weekend when he appeared from custody.

A trial date was fixed for 8th October and Burnett was released on bail, with an added condition that he stays away from the Tesco store and its car park.