An Angus man was jailed for nine months for carrying two potentially lethal weapons on the streets of Arbroath.
Christopher Gordon, 27, of Grange Path, told police he was using a police-style baton to hit a ball for his dog after being stopped in Ogilvy Place in Arbroath last year.
While being questioned he revealed to police an ornamental dagger he was also carrying and was arrested.
Gordon appeared for sentencing at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday, after previously pleading guilty on indictment.
His solicitor Ian Flynn told the court his client had been “hitting a ball for his dog” with the police-like truncheon, but officers questioning him had not been able to find the ball.
He added that the blade was a “Hindi-style knife”, which was normally on a plinth in Gordon’s living room.
Mr Flynn said: “He accepts he was in a public place, but there was no aggravation to the police. It was just a common stop and the offences came to light.”
The Crown Office seized the knife, which was presented to Sheriff Gregor Murray in court in an evidence bag.
He told Gordon: “The explanation you gave for having these items has to be seen in the context of a man who has accrued three previous convictions for carrying offensive weapons and carrying offensive weapons in a public place.
“You have received periods of imprisonment of increasing amounts, and to say you were just going down the road to give the weapons to a pal or that you were hitting a ball for your dog is to be regarded with a great deal of suspicion.”
Gordon was sentenced to nine months for the baton possession and a further nine months for the blade possession, both concurrent.