Inverness man had knife in shop after being sent home from construction job

A young offender has been locked up after being caught in an Inverness city centre shop armed with a lock-knife while heavily intoxicated.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Josh McLaren (22) had been sent home from his construction job on November 29 last year.

Police then had to be called when he started knocking over and bumping into displays in the Co-op shop in Church Street around 2.30pm

When officers searched him the knife, used for his work, was discovered in a pocket.

McLaren, of Johnston Place, Hilton, had been remanded in custody since the incident.

He appeared via video link from HMP Inverness and admitted having an offensive weapon in a public place.

Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald said: "Knife crime is a serious matter.

"Possession of a knife in a public place is a serious matter."

McLaren was sentenced to an eight month custodial sentence, backdated to when he was first remanded.