A Craigavon man who was found in possession of a blade after turning up to an address which police were searching has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
The 20-year-old claimed that he had been using the blade to scrape paint off skirting board and had forgotten he still had it.
Mickey Dundon, of Drumellan Walk, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Court heard that on August 20, police were performing a drugs search of a property in Lurgan when the defendant turned up at the address.
Officers elected to search Dundon and found a Stanley knife blade in his hoodie pocket.
The defendant was advised this was an offence and was told he would be reported.
During a notebook interview, Dundon said the blade had been used of scraping paint off skirting boards and that he had forgotten he had it.
Defence solicitor Pat Vernon stated: “Mr Dundon had been going to visit a friend to go to a local park to play football.
“It was just bad luck that he turned up when the police were at the address.”
Deputy District Judge Liam McStay commented: “This was good luck, police seized the knife.
“If he had produced it he could have stabbed someone or even been stabbed himself, carrying a blade is a huge risk.”
Mr Vernon said: “As you can see in the report, Mr Dundon now checks all his clothes before leaving the house.”
He stated: “His mother can confirm that he had been using the blade to scrape paint. This was not the whole knife but simply the blade.
“He was very co-operative with police and has fully disclosed all information to probation.”
Court heard that the defendant had a prior conviction for burglary in England which had not shown up in his record but had been divulged by him to probation.
Deputy District Judge McStay stated: “He has a clear record in this jurisdiction. The only reason we know of this very serious matter in England is that he told probation.
“You have a good family and have had a good upbringing, you need to be very careful about your behaviour.”
He told Dundon: “Do not carry knives. Not only could you go to prison for a long time but you could be stabbed yourself.”
The defendant was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months.
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