Sheriff ‘too tough’ on knife crime

A SHERIFF’S stance on knife crime was deemed too tough by appeal judges yesterday, who overturned a custodial sentence imposed on a teenager.

Liam Scott, 16, of Lochee Road, Dundee, was caught in possession of a knife on 23 April. He had responded to a challenge to fight that appeared on the Facebook social networking site.

Sheriff Richard Davidson told Scott at Dundee Sheriff Court that the courts would not tolerate people carrying knives, and he ordered detention for 140 days. Scott served a week before being freed pending an appeal.

The Justiciary Appeal Court in Edinburgh heard background reports had recommended alternatives to custody, including work with the Venture Trust, which helped young offenders change their lives. However, Sheriff Davidson had said young people must learn there were good reasons the authorities promoted a no-tolerance campaign to knife-carrying.

Lord Osborne said: “[The sheriff] simply seems to have closed his mind to the possibility of an alternative.”

The judges imposed a community payback order on Scott with a year’s supervision, as well as 100 hours of unpaid work and, if required, attendance at the Venture Trust.