A seriously ill islander who uses a lock knife as a disability aid has been cleared of carrying the weapon in public.
Scott Macleod, 43, of 29 Milkinghill Park, Tong, Lewis, was found not guilty after trial at Stornoway Sheriff Court.
Macleod who suffers from seronegative polyarthritis was charged after he put the
knife in a tray for a security x-
He told Stornoway Sheriff Court yesterday it was an essential tool to open food packaging and cans as his fingers are often “completely immobile.”
Procurator fiscal Karen Smith told the court Macleod did not have an awareness of the significance of carrying a knife in a public place and was “simply using his medical condition as an excuse.”
She suggested, while travelling to mainland hospital appointments, he should limit himself to food and drink he could manage to open without the knife and make plans for the “worst case scenario.”
That “would mean staying at home,” replied Macleod.
Sheriff David Sutherland found Macleod not guilty, ruling he had a reasonable excuse for having the knife.
Islander not guilty of knife allegation
13 August 2015