Knife man appeal bid is rejected

A MAN caught carrying a knife in the street by police has lost an appeal bid to overturn his conviction.

Craig Robertson, 39, from Musselburgh, was convicted at Haddington Sheriff Court in September last year after being found with the blade in a Musselburgh car park. He was stopped by officers and admitted he was carrying a double-edged serrated knife when asked to turn out his pockets.

Robertson told police he had borrowed a knife from his mother after moving house and was now returning it to her.

Lawyers for Robertson lodged the appeal against his conviction and alleged that the sheriff had misdirected the jury about the burden of proof.

But appeal court judges rejected the appeal and said that the jury had been able to draw fair conclusions on whether Robertson had a “reasonable excuse” for having the knife in public.