FOUR-time weapons offender who was told he was facing a 'very long' sentence will be released next month

Colin Grant — who has convictions for carrying hammers and knives — has had his custody period backdated to when he was first remanded, which means he will be out in weeks.

The 27-year-old committed his latest offence by grabbing a kitchen knife from his mother's kitchen and taking it out on the streets with him late at night.

Defence lawyer David Tod told Greenock Sheriff Court that each time his client had a potential weapon on him in the past it was in order to be jailed.

Mr Tod said: "He realises what is required to spend time in custody and that's what he does.

"He uses them as some kind of prop.

"He has no record for violence at all."

Mr Tod described Grant's past offences as 'bizarre in their circumstances'.

Grant — who was remanded in custody on the latest matter on August 31 — pleaded guilty on indictment to having a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

His mother called the police on him after realising that he had taken one of her kitchen knives from their home at Cathie Allan Place.

Solicitor Mr Tod suggested Grant could be placed on a drug treatment and testing order due to his 'lack of record for violence'.

Sheriff Thomas Ward previously told Grant: "If it were not for the fact that you have possible mental health issues you'd be going to jail for a very, very long time — and that may still happen to you."

At a sentencing hearing, Sheriff Andrew McIntyre said: "This is your fourth conviction for either possession of a knife or a weapon.

"Maybe you had a purpose in mind and I note there is no history of violence, but there are good reasons why knives are not tolerated on local streets."

Grant was told that the appropriate sentence for the offence would have been one of 15 months were it not for his guilty plea.