A 23-year-old Douglas man has been put on probation after he was caught carrying a knife.

Charlton Andrew Gary Watterson, of Empire Terrace, admitted possessing a prohibited article in a public place.

Watterson was said to have history of substance misuse dating back to when he was just nine years old.

Police found him with a kitchen knife in his pocket on June 3 at Castlemona Avenue.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court that police were called after a report of a man in the area with a knife.

blade

Officers found Watterson and detained him for a search, finding the knife with a blade in excess of three inches in his pocket.

As he was arrested he said: ’That’s a knife from my bedsit.’

When interviewed at police headquarters Watterson admitted carrying the knife but answered ’no comment’ to all other questions.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode entered a basis of plea on behalf of his client in which Watterson said he did not know why he had the knife but it was not to harm anyone. He said that at no time had he wielded it or threatened anyone.

Mr Kermode confirmed that the knife blade was just over three inches.

A probation report said that Watterson was suffering from anxiety and depression and was currently under the care of the Drug and Alcohol Team (DAT).

The report said that he had a long history of substance misuse dating from when he was nine.

It also expressed concerns that Watterson did not know why he was carrying the knife.

Mr Kermode said: ’I think it would be a different case if he had wielded the knife or threatened anyone but he didn’t. He is engaging with DAT.’

Magistrates chair Carol Maddrell told Watterson: ’If there had been any suggestion you were going to use this knife we would have been considering custody.’

Watterson was sentenced to a 12-month probation order and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £125.

He will pay the costs at a rate of £10 per week.