A pizza chain boss took a knife into a Dundee nightclub claiming it was “for protection”.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Chantal Nell — director of operations for Project Pie — was on a business trip to Dundee in February this year.
The court heard that during the evening of February 12 she attended Out nightclub, based in St Andrews Street, on a busy Friday night.
Others in the club noticed Nell had a two-and-a-half-inch lockknife in her possession and told bouncers.
Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie said: “There were approximately 80 people in the club at the time.
“Door stewards were told around 2.10am that the accused was in possession of a knife.
“Witnesses passed a description of the accused to stewards, who located her.”
Nell, 43, from London, was escorted to the entrance and asked if she had a knife.
She told bouncers she did and “without hesitation” handed over the lockknife.
The fiscal continued: “Police attended immediately and she was searched, with no further items found.
“She repeatedly said she had it for her own protection and refused to accept it was illegal to have it.”
She was thereafter arrested and made no reply to caution and charge.
Nell was taken to police headquarters in Bell Street and detained within a cell until Monday February 15 when she appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on petition.
Nell, of Elizabeth Square, Rotherhithe Street, London, admitted having a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, at Out nightclub, St Andrews Street, Dundee, on February 13 this year.
Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: “She is aware that all options will be required to be considered in sentencing.”
Sentence was deferred by Sheriff Alastair Carmichael until November 8 for reports and assessments.
Nell declined to comment on the incident when approached by the Tele, while no one from Out nightclub could be reached.
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