By james art Colin Evans pleaded guilty to one charge of the offense as well as another charge of possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared from custody at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, October 22.
Both issues stemmed from an incident that happened on the 29-year-old’s former home street on Warrix Avenue in Irvine.
On the night of August 24 this year – around 11.20 p.m., police officers were called to the area on another, unrelated case.
When they arrived at the street, they noticed Evans walking his dog in the middle of the road. They also noticed that he was holding a can of Tennent beer and appeared unsteady on his feet.
As a result, they approached the 29-year-old, who spoke to officers and admitted he was the subject of a bail order.
Part of his conditions for this were that Evans remain at his home address between 7pm and 7am each day.
Because of that warrant violation, police arrested the Irvine man, who was also searched as part of that process. Silver knuckle dust was then recovered from him.
Evans was then taken to Saltcoats Police Station where he was cautioned and charged before making his first court appearance on August 26. He has since been detained at HMP Kilmarnock.
Defending, barrister Simon Brown told Sheriff Murdoch McTaggart that Evans had since been convicted in other cases and must remain in prison until at least August next year.
Regarding the incident in question, he added that the 29-year-old is “a person who has had mental health issues for some time”.
He went on to say that these problems were not helped by his cocaine use, which made him paranoid.
Mr Brown explained: “That’s why he was carrying a weapon and felt he had to get out of his house.”
The lawyer admitted that this was “no explanation at all” and that Evans was aware that a custodial sentence was imminent.
He then asked the sheriff to take into account that the 29-year-old had a relatively short record and had made his plea at an early stage.
Mr Brown added: “He has also benefited from drug rehabilitation and mental health services in prison and is performing much better today.”
Sheriff McTaggart commented: “There is no suitable alternative order to custody.”
Evans was then sentenced to spend an additional six months in prison, which will run consecutively to his current term behind bars.