A MAN with a history of perpetrating crimes of violence has admitted carrying a ‘folding knife’ after dark.

Robert McNeil was spotted ‘behaving suspiciously’ by sharp-eyed police officers who decided to search him.

They found a three-and-a-half-inch blade in one of McNeil’s pockets after stopping him in Greenock’s Tobago Street.

The town’s sheriff court heard how McNeil, 57, has previous convictions for serious assault and other attacks dating back to his teens.

He committed his latest offence on 20 December last year.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife confirmed: “It was a folding knife.” She told Sheriff Derek Hamilton: “Around 7.20pm police on uniformed patrol saw the accused behaving suspiciously and approached him.

“They searched him under misue of drugs legislation and recovered a three-and-a-half-inch blade from his front right jacket pocket.

“The accused was arrested and subsequently interviewed under caution.” McNeil told officers: “I was keeping it for someone else. It wasn’t mine.

“I was keeping it for a friend who wouldn’t do anything wrong with it.” But after McNeil was cautioned and charged at Greenock police office, he stated: “I done it.” He pled guilty in court to having with him a knife without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

Sheriff Hamilton remarked: “He has a fairly historical record — assaults and serious assaults.” McNeil’s defence lawyer Derek Buchanan said: “His record is not without relevance given the nature of this offence.

“However his most recent conviction is reaching its 30th anniversary. His offending dates back to his teens.” Bail was originally opposed by the Crown when McNeil first appeared from police custody on petition on 23 December last year, but he was subsequently released by a sheriff.

His non-appearance at a later court hearing resulted in a warrant for his arrest.

But solicitor Mr Buchanan explained that his office had mistakenly sent the indictment charge to McNeil at Roxburgh Street instead of his actual address in Roxburgh Avenue.

Sheriff Hamilton deferred sentence until 3 December for reports and continued McNeil’s bail.