A HADDINGTON man caught carrying a knife in public has been placed on supervision.

Steven Carnegie was found to have a knife in a coat pocket when police searched him during an incident on Musselburgh High Street.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that police officers were called to deal with an unrelated matter at the Boots store on High Street at 5.15pm on September 2, 2020.

About 15 minutes later, police traced Carnegie and, during a search of his person, the officers discovered a knife hidden in the left-hand pocket of his coat.

The court heard that Carnegie told the officers he “didn’t realise it was there” and lawyer Simon Collins said that his client was “anxious to have the matter resolved”.

Mr Collins said that 38-year-old Carnegie was “using substances at the time” but had since stopped using and had been clean since committing the offence.

The court was also told during last Friday’s hearing that Carnegie was currently engaging with social work services and a substance abuse nurse.

Sheriff Adrian Fraser said that he could deal with the sentencing by way of “an alternative to custody” and placed him on a 12-month community payback order.

Carnegie will have to complete 135 hours of unpaid work in the community and will be placed under the supervision of the social work department for 12 months.

Carnegie pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife, at High Street, Musselburgh, on September 2, 2020.