A MAN took a knuckleduster with him on a trip to a Greggs shop to buy pastries.

A sheriff heard that David O'Hagan claimed he had the weapon for 'self defence' in the middle of the afternoon as he walked along Princes Street in Port Glasgow.

O'Hagan, 31, attracted the attention of police who saw him acting suspiciously and initially suspected him of concealing illegal drugs.

Prosecutor David Glancy said: "The accused saw the foot patrol officers and he dodged into a lane beside the Co-op funeral parlour.

"This was at 2.55pm and what they found was a grey knuckleduster."

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher told the court: "What he did was he left to go to Greggs with a view to buying food and then return home, and it was in his pocket.

"He purchased the item on the internet."

O'Hagan — who is facing the prospect of a foot amputation due to an ankle injury — was convicted of assault when he was 17 and knife possession when he was 20.

He committed the knuckleduster offence on October 31 last year.

When police found the item he said: "I'm really sorry about that boss, I totally forgot I had it in my pocket."

O'Hagan, of the Port's Fore Street, added: "It's for self defence — a couple of guys are after me."

Solicitor Mr Gallagher said: "There is a possession of drugs conviction in 2009 but apart from the matter which is now before the court there has been no further offending since then.

"He has a serious drug problem which still exists.

"He has an ankle injury which requires surgery and there is a possibility, I'm told a 30 per cent chance, of having to have the foot removed."

Sheriff Thomas Ward told O'Hagan: "If your convictions were any more recent you'd being going to jail."

The sheriff placed him on an electronic tagging order to stay within his home on Fore Street between 6pm and 6am for 163 days.

He said: "If the order is breached I will revoke it and send you to prison."