A man was caught with three knives in Cowdenbeath High Street after boozing at his uncle’s funeral.
Lee Anderson told police he was carrying the blades for his “own protection in case anyone started on him”.
He later changed his story to say the knives belonged to his father and he had planned on returning them.
The 33-year-old made threats to assault a police officer’s family and kill his dog following his arrest over the incident on July 6 last year.
Caught with three knives
Procurator fiscal depute Ronnie Hay told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court police received a call from a member of the public about Anderson being drunk and causing a disturbance in Cowdenbeath High Street at around 3.20pm.
He was traced, searched and found with a 3.75-inch lock knife and a three-inch blade in his jacket and a hidden ‘belt buckle knife’ which had a two-inch blade.
The fiscal depute said: “The accused stated the knife was for his own protection in case anyone started on him”.
Police arrested Anderson and his demeanour was said to change.
Mr Hay said he became hostile while in a police van and made threats to assault a police officer’s family and kill his dog.
He was held in custody until he sobered up.
Anderson, of James Court in Cowdenbeath, appeared in court to plead guilty to having three knives without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.
He also admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing, repeatedly uttering threats of violence towards a constable.
He also repeatedly kicked the inside of a police vehicle and made threats towards another male constable.
‘Downplaying’ incident
Defence lawyer Ms Westwood said her client had drunk a “fair amount of alcohol” at his uncle’s funeral but accepts his conduct was unacceptable and he has abstained from alcohol since.
Ms Westwood said her client told her the knives belong to his dad and he intended to return them before the funeral.
Sheriff Robert More told Anderson his latest explanation for carrying the knives was inconsistent with the facts read out in court in relation to his guilty plea.
Deferring sentence, he warned, on the face of it, he is “trying to downplay” the incident and said it would be better if he is open and honest with the social worker in the production of reports in time for sentencing.
The sheriff said the court takes a serious view on the carrying of knives, adding: “Unfortunately, trouble does flare and before you know it, out comes a knife and before you know it something catastrophic has happened”.
He also highlighted Anderson has a previous conviction for an assault involving use of a knife.
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