Bonar Bridge man admits being in possession of credit card knife
A YOUNG Sutherland man was found to be carrying an illegal knife during a visit to his doctor’s surgery.
The weapon was discovered after police tracked Ross Skeffington, Swordale Crescent, Bonar Bridge, down to the medical practice and searched him in relation to another matter.
The 22-year-old said he had bought the "credit card knife" on the Internet and had intended to use it on camping expeditions.
He claimed to have had no idea the knife, which transforms from a credit card sized sheet into a blade, was illegal.
The incident happened at Creich Medical Practice, Bonar Bridge, on February 3.
At Tain Sheriff Court today Skeffington admitted without excuse or lawful authority having an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a credit card knife.
Stewart MacIver, prosecuting, said that on the day in question police wanted to speak to Skeffington on an unrelated matter and tracked him down to the medical practice at 4.15pm.
Mr MacIver said: "He was searched in connection with other matters and an item known as a ‘credit card knife’ was found in his wallet."
The court was shown the knife, which is attached to a hinge that swings out, turning the "card" portion into a knife handle.
Mr MacIver said Skeffington was arrested but then released because of fears over his health. The young man told police: "It was a stupid thing I picked up off the Internet and was going to use for camping."
Defence agent Alison Foggo said her client regularly attended the surgery because of severe, ongoing health difficulties which had left him unable to work.
He was awaiting open heart surgery and also had a chronic kidney condition that required considerable medical input.
The lawyer said: "He purchased the credit card knife on the Internet for a £1. He believed it was a legal knife because the blade is less than three inches in length but the handle mechanism has a locking clip on it which holds the blade in a fixed position.
"If falls outwith the definition of a folding pocket knife and is prohibited."
Ms Foggo said Skeffington had no previous convictions and was anxious for the case against him, which had been a "considerable source of anxiety", to be resolved.
She asked: "In all the circumstances, given his clean record and health problems, would your lordship give consideration of a financial penalty or deferred sentence of six months to see how his health is after surgery."
But Sheriff Chris Dickson deferred sentence until April 18 for Criminal Justice background reports.
The sheriff, who agreed a Crown motion for forfeiture of the knife, said he was keen to hear whether social workers felt a period of supervision would be helpful for Skeffington.
