A KILMARNOCK man is awaiting sentence after being found in possession of a knife in two of the town's busiest areas.

Andrew Cunningham pleaded guilty to one charge in relation to the incident when he appeared at the town's sheriff court on Tuesday, March 12.

The 21-year-old admitted being in possession of a lock knife in Bank Street, the Burns Mall and Kilmarnock bus station on August 25 last year.

The procurator fiscal said Cunningham, of Erskine Place, was spotted by a security guard entering the bus station at around 6.30pm and showing the knife to two boys before putting it back in his pocket.

 

Cunningham then went over to another group of youths and showed them the blade before leaving in the direction of the Burns Mall.

There he approached another security guard and again showed them the knife.

The guard asked Cunningham to hand over the weapon, but he refused and instead showed it to another person before going back to the bus station.

Security guards called police, but before officers could find him, Cunningham was seen on CCTV with another group of youths before making his way back to the Burns Mall via King Street.

On seeing police at the shopping centre he made his way elsewhere.

Police eventually traced him on later that day on Bank Street, where he told officers he had had the knife but had thrown it away.

Cunningham was arrested and charged and the knife was later recovered.

Calum Armour, defending, said his client had had "struggles with addiction issues with an early age" and had been attending charity services for help.

Mr Armour asked for background reports before sentencing, "given the nature of the offence and his young age", and said the knife was "often in a closed position" during the incident.

Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart deferred sentence for reports and released Cunningham on bail.