An Angus teenager narrowly escaped being sent to detention after admitting possessing knives in an Arbroath street.
Greg Norval, 18, of Keith Rigg in the town, appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced to a community payback order and 150 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to the charge.
The offence took place in the early hours of June 5 this year on Keptie Street after Norval had been taken home by police following an earlier disturbance.
The court heard how the accused later left his house and was spotted by witnesses on the street carrying what appeared to be three knives.
Fiscal Jill Drummond said: “At 1.55am a witness made a 999 emergency call and officers attended.
“Police approached the accused and noticed a dark hooded top was lying on the ground. They lifted the top and found the three knives lying there.
“The accused said ‘they’re mine’ and he was arrested.”
Norval’s defence agent said that her client’s cousin had called the accused earlier in the evening to say that she was being followed by men carrying knives and it was this that prompted the accused into his actions.
She added: “He cooperated with the police and told them the truth. He has never been before the courts before and wishes he could turn back time.”