A TEENAGER has pleaded guilty to being in possession of a knife at Johnstone Town Hall on a weekday morning.

Robert Hainey, 19, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court last week and admitted illegally having the blade on November 1, 2019, while on bail.

After he was arrested, he was put on a curfew to be at home between 7pm and 7am as part of a new bail order and broke that just days later.

Hainey also admitted that offence.

The Crown accepted a not guilty plea to a charge of breaking into a house in Maple Drive, Johnstone, and stealing a television, food, clothing, trainers and medication between October 31 and November 1, 2019.

Depute fiscal Keri Marshall told the court it was about 9.05am on a Friday morning when police were called to the town hall to deal with a man who appeared to be under the influence.

When officers arrived, they saw Hainey standing at the entrance to the building and noticed he was slurring his words and struggling to maintain his balance.

Hainey was searched and officers found a two-inch-long steel ‘finger claw’ knife in his jacket pocket.

He told police: “It’s my brother’s jacket. I don’t know about that knife.”

After the curfew was imposed, police went to Hainey’s home at 7.10pm on November 8 but his mother told officers she didn’t know where he was.

Defence solicitor Gordon Ritchie said he was not making a motion for bail and added that Hainey is currently serving a period of detention at Polmont Young Offenders Institution for other matters.

Sheriff Seith Ireland called for a criminal justice social work report and adjourned the case until April 3.