A KILMARNOCK man has thanked a sheriff – after being handed a prison sentence of nearly two years for being caught with a horrifying weapon.
According to Eamon Doherty’s attorney, the 26-year-old “seems at his happiest” when incarcerated.
Doherty, who was listed as a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock in court documents, had previously entered a guilty plea to possessing a pointed metal object on King Street in the town on January 16.
Days prior to the incident, Doherty had been granted parole for a prior conviction, according to testimony given to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.
At about 2:00 pm, police were summoned in response to a report of a disturbance on the street, according to prosecutor Chris Munro.
A member of the public alerted them to the presence of “a man with a weapon” when they arrived, thirty minutes later.
After officers noticed Doherty in the neighbourhood, they pulled him over to conduct a search.
Police had questioned Doherty about whether he had any dangerous objects on him, Mr. Munro informed the court.
“He responded that he had a sharpened piece of metal he was ‘willing to use if needed’,” said Munro.
Doherty continued by telling police that if they attempted to attack him, he would “slash someone in the face” with the weapon and that he had been
“having trouble with youths” before the incident.
According to Neil McPherson, the defence attorney, his client had a “challenging upbringing”.
“I believe this was done on purpose to get back in custody,” Mr. McPherson continued. When he is back under captivity, he appears to be at his happiest.
“This is a really depressing situation.”
Doherty was told by Sheriff Alistair Watson, “You were only recently released from custody a few days ago.” Taking something like this out on the town lacks spontaneity.
“Community orders and brief jail terms don’t seem to have any impact.
“You were let go early the last time for good behaviour, and you haven’t really behaved well since.”
Doherty was given a total term of 23 months in prison by Watson, which included a portion of the sentence for which he had been granted early release prior to the King Street incident.
Doherty said “thank you” to the sheriff as he was being brought away.
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