Sofiia Potanina via iStockA motorcyclist was caught with a knuckleduster after police became suspicious of his clothing and behaviour.
Keiran Hepburn was kitted out in motorcycle gear but was not near a bike when he was stopped by officers in Glasgow city centre on March 24 last year.
The 25-year-old admitted he had the weapon on his person when he was told he was going to be searched.
On Monday, Hepburn pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to having the knuckleduster without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.
Sheriff Lindsay Wood tagged Hepburn, of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, for 12 months, keeping him indoors between 9.30pm and 6.30am.
He was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and was placed under supervision for a year.
The court heard police had reason to speak to Hepburn at 12pm on Mitchell Street.
Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “He was told he would be searched and he said he had a knuckleduster on his person.
“It was recovered from his jacket pocket and he was arrested.”
Hepburn told officers that he found the weapon at a multi-storey car park nearby.
Joe Murphy, defending, told the court that Hepburn was curious when he came across the knuckleduster and foolishly kept it.
The lawyer added: “He left the car park and he was kitted out in motorcycle stuff and gear but had no motorbike in the vicinity.
“Officers paid a bit more attention to him and thought he was acting suspiciously, avoiding eye contact.”
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