A FIRST-TIME offender was walking about with a knife close to a busy supermarket in Glasgow’s Southside.

David Gilchrist, 51, appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to the offence.

He admitted that he had the offensive weapon in his possession close to the Tesco supermarket on Kilmarnock Road in Shawlands on June 1, this year.

The Procurator Fiscal depute Louise MacNeil told the court that two members of Tesco staff were working in the store at around 3.50pm on the day of the incident.

They contacted the police after they became aware of Gilchrist who had been walking around outside the store carrying the knife.

He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

When police officers arrived, they approached Gilchrist and saw that he was holding a lockback knife.

He was taken to Helen Street Police Station and held in custody to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court the next day.

Procurator Fiscal depute Ms MacNeil added that Gilchrist was not cautioned and charged due to his level of intoxication.

Gilchrist’s defence agent told the court that his client does not remember much about the incident before adding that it was a “concerning offence”.

The court then heard that Gilchrist had never been in trouble before or since the offence, and he had no previous convictions.

Gilchrist, of Mossgiel Road, Newlands, was ordered by Sheriff Diane McConnell to complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community within six months.