Prisoner said bladed weapons were to ‘sharpen his pencils’

Alexander Hutchison, 32, was found with the contraband in Glasgow’s Barlinnie Prison in December 2018.

A prisoner caught with two bladed weapons claimed he used them to sharpen pencils for his art and sketch drawing.

Alexander Hutchison, 32, was found with the contraband in Glasgow’s Barlinnie Prison in December 2018.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Hutchison’s cell was was subject to a search following intelligence.

A pen case which was melted to incorporate two razors was found in an empty kettle box on a shelf.

A similar weapon with one razor attached was located inside a groove under the window.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday, Hutchison pleaded guilty to the possession of both blades.

Virgil Crawford, defending, told the court that the two-bladed weapon belonged to a former prisoner.

Mr Crawford added: “He tells me one of them he made himself for his artwork and sketch drawing.

“He says he is not allowed to have a pencil sharpener as the blade could be removed but he is still allowed a razor for shaving.”

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports.

Sheriff Sean Murphy told Hutchison: “Having these items in prison indicates to me that custody is inevitable.”

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