A LABOURER described as ‘OCD man’ by his colleagues has avoided jail after he was found with a Stanley blade in his wallet.

Adam Spence admitted having the blade in Saltcoats earlier this year – but said he had simply forgotten it was there.

Spence, 30, from Surrey, England, was stopped by police in Hamilton Street, Saltcoats just before 10am on January 2 this year.

The officers, in an unmarked car, asked if he and his friends would consent to a search.

The group agreed and Spence was then asked if he had anything sharp.

He replied: “I have this,” then removed a two-inch silver Stanley blade from his wallet.

The blade was seized and he was cautioned and placed under arrest.

Labourer Spence, who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), said he had been on holiday in Scotland over the festive season.

He said he used the blade at work to remove sealent from windows and had simply forgotten it was there.

Spence was then taken to Saltcoats Police Office and appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on petition on January 3 before being released.

He returned to the court this week to admit the offence, when his lawyer Mr Duncan revealed his client did suffer from ADHD and had an alcohol problem too.

He said Spence had been sober, apart for one relapse, since 2009.

The lawyer then stated that Spence’s ADHD caused forgotfulness and he had forgotten that he had the blade in his wallet.

But Sheriff Alastair Watson intervened, stating: “I’ve employed tradesmen for years and never have I known anyone to have a Stanley knife in their wallet.” Mr Duncan conceded that, ‘It was a very odd place to keep it’ before revealing Spence’s workmates called him “OCD man” because he was so particular in his work.

Sheriff Watson warned Spence: “In Scotland, somebody caught with a blade in my jurisdiction should expect prison.

"The only way of supressing this problem is coming down hard, but on this occasion I will accept this explanation on the basis that I will do this once. If you are found in this jurisdication again then you can expect jail.” Spence was fined £600, reduced from £1,000 due to his early guilty plea.