Nine extra weeks in jail for Mossbank man found with lock-knife

When Kieran Roberts found a knife, he resolved to do the decent thing and hand it into the police station.

But before he could get there he took illicit substances and was found in possession of the weapon.

Roberts, 25, of Sandside in Mossbank, was today handed a custodial sentence of nine weeks at Lerwick Sheriff Court. He had previously admitted having the knife in public at Lerwick’s South Lochside and sentence had been deferred for background reports.

Defence agent Michael Burnett said Roberts had found the “article”. He said Roberts had intended to hand it in, but admitted he took “a roundabout route” after taking illicit substances and suffering from the effects of intoxication.

Roberts was on a supervised release order at the time of the offence, having been let out early from a sentence which had been due to expire in November 2013.

Mr Burnett urged Sheriff Philip Mann not to add any extra time to his ongoing incarceration by imposing a consecutive sentence. He insisted Roberts had been “getting on quite well” until the “unfortunate incident”.

Sheriff Mann told Roberts: “The possession of a locking knife is a very serious offence. I have to deal with this on the basis that you did find this knife – you didn’t arm yourself with it before you went out into the public arena.  

“For someone in your position, if you had formed the intention to immediately hand it in to police, you really should have tended to that right away.”

He added he was “not persuaded” that the nine week sentence should run concurrently with his present prison term, insisting it would be consecutive to all other sentences.