A TEENAGER caught in possession of a knife for the eighth time has been spared a jail sentence.

Jessica McGinness had the 10-inch kitchen knife hidden inside a jacket pocket when she was picked up by police officers on Musselburgh High Street earlier this year.

McGinness told police officers she was carrying the blade and wanted to be arrested as she had “no life on the outside”.

Previously, the court was told that McGinness, from Edinburgh had been released from prison for an earlier knife possession charge just days before the Musselburgh incident.

She pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and sentence had been deferred for reports.

The 19-year-old, who appeared in court from custody, has now been issued with a “last chance” by a sheriff after she was spared being returned to jail when she was sentenced last Monday.

Sheriff Kenneth Maciver placed the teenager on an 18-month community payback order which will entail her having to carry out certain requirements.

Firstly, Sheriff Maciver told McGinness she must attend social work appointments and any future dates with the Willow Project.

She also has to take any medication provided to her and has been barred from carrying any item which could be used to commit acts of self-harm.

Sheriff Maciver said his decision not to jail McGinness was due to the teenager “posing more of a problem to herself than others” while in possession of a blade.

Sheriff Maciver said: “I’m not sure you fully understand the way the courts look at knife crime. The courts have a duty to deal with people who carry blades in a significant way.

“I believe you don’t carry a knife to damage other people but to cause damage to yourself.

“This is your last chance.”