'Scheme' star was caught with a knife

A STAR of TV series The Scheme was caught with a knife after grabbing it from a man who held it to his throat, a court has heard.

Marvin Baird, 31, claimed he seized the blade and ran off after being threatened because he was a "minor celebrity".

Baird had been drinking with a friend in his home town of Kilmarnock, but was refused entry to a pub by bouncers.

A crowd gathered outside the Route 66 bar and Baird was asked for his autograph. But an onlooker lunged forward and held a knife to the former drug addict's throat, the court heard.

Neil McPherson, defending, said: "A crowd had gathered and they wanted to take photos, kiss him, or all three."

Mr McPherson said Baird managed to pull the knife from his attacker and ran away.

However, a witness called police to say Baird was running down the street with a knife and he was detained nearby.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday Baird admitted possessing an offensive weapon during the incident on Friday night.

Sentence was deferred for background reports, and he was freed on bail. Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane told Baird he was "very lucky" the case had not been prosecuted on indictment.

"Celebrities don't get treated any differently," she said.