Highland fisherman admits unlawful possession of knife and cannabis in Inverness

A fisherman who was caught by police with a knife in his car and £70 worth of cannabis as he drove through Inverness was fined £1155.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that the discovery of the blade in Stuart Smith's vehicle didn't lead to him being punished for it because he had his fishing tackle in the car at the time on August 8, 2021.

Fiscal depute Susan Love accepted the 32-year-old had a reasonable excuse for having the weapon but took his guilty plea to possession of a controlled drug in Oldtown Road.

However, the court heard that Smith, of Great North Road, Muir of Ord was again stopped by police on January 30, 2022 near Beauly and once more he had a knife in the car.

Ms Love said: "But he told officers that he didn't go fishing that day. A grinder was also found and it had a nominal amount of cannabis on it."

Smith admitted unlawful possession of the knife and the drug.