Stephen Paterson was caught carrying a Stanley knife he’d been using for the renovations which he forgot he had in his pocket.

But, thanks to good behaviour rules, he could be out of prison around the time his partner is due to give birth.

Paterson was cutting carpets, boxes and lino in the property he and his gran were moving into in the town in March this year.

The 21-year-old was in the middle of the renovations when he and a friend decided to pop up to his pal’s mum’s house.

And, when they left Paterson’s new home in John Lang Street, he forget he had a Stanley knife in his pocket.

Police officers stopped him as he walked along Tannahill Crescent and found the knife.

He later appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court where he admitted having the illegal weapon on March 30.

And he was caged for 14 months after Sheriff William Ireland heard having the knife was an honest mistake.

Charlie McCusker, defending, told the court Paterson, whose pregnant partner is due to give birth in October, had lived with his gran from a young age.

He explained the pair had got a new house and he was using a Stanley knife to cut carpets and lino to be laid in the property.

Paterson explained to police he had been using the blade while working and had forgotten it was there.

The officers spoke to his gran who invited the officers in to show them the carpet and boxes he had been cutting.

Although the officers accepted Paterson had been using the knife for DIY work, he was still arrested.

After hearing the incident was Paterson’s third conviction for knife carrying, Sheriff Ireland ruled jail was the only appropriate sentence.

But he said that, due to the unusual circumstances, 14 months was an adequate stint behind bars.