Eastern European farm worker thought lock knife was legal
An eastern European farm worker found with a lock knife in his rucksack has been fined £300 at Dundee Sheriff Court.
- Published in the Courier : 20.10.11
- Published online : 20.10.11 @ 03.39pm
Martin Jerabek (21) told police he believed he was allowed to have the blade in the UK because it was less than seven centimetres long.
He came to the attention of the officers when he was staggering drunkenly around Dundee city centre with friend and co-accused Michael Lusecky, who was so unsteady on his feet that he fell directly into the path of a passing police car.
Lusecky (22) was fined £340 after admitting behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in West Marketgait on Sunday, acting aggressively, shouting and swearing, refusing to leave a garage forecourt and resisting arrest.
Jerabek admitted having the knife and being drunk and incapable.
Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair said the pair were moved on from the Overgate by a police officer shortly before noon on Sunday in response to a complaint from staff about their drunken behaviour.
At around 5.30pm two officers were passing a filling station in West Marketgait when they spotted the two men. They appeared to be drunk and unsteady on their feet and were jumping around holding on to each other.
Jerabek was holding a rucksack and two open bottles of ouzo.
As the car was about to pass Lusecky fell backwards into the path of the police vehicle but the driver managed to avoid hitting him.
The officers asked Jerabek to empty the bottles of drink but he refused to co-operate so they took them from him and poured out the alcohol.
The men then swore at the officers and were advised to calm down. However, Lusecky became more aggressive and lashed out with his arms before being restrained.
The men were taken to police headquarters and there the knife was found in Jerabek's rucksack.
The court heard the two men have been sharing a caravan in Wester Essendy Road, Blairgowrie, and working on farms in the area.
Jerabek's lawyer Erica Watson said her client, who had studied architecture in the Czech Republic, had little recollection of events.
He used the lock knife for cooking and she had advised him that it was the type of knife, and not just the length of the blade, that was taken into consideration by the legislation.
John Boyle, for Lusecky, said his client did not plan to return to Slovakia but hoped to pick up further work locally.
Fining the two men, Sheriff Elizabeth Munro said: ''You seem like very decent young men to me and I hope you are ashamed of your behaviour.''
She also ordered forfeiture of Jerabek's knife.
