A MOUNT Gambier man who was located at a local hotel in possession of a fishing knife received a small fine in court on Tuesday.
Gage Michael Leddin, 19, appeared unrepresented in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court to be sentenced for carrying an offensive weapon at night.
The prosecution said at 1.55am on August 31, officers attended a local hotel and requested the defendant remove his metal items.
Leddin attempted to conceal a metal flip knife by placing it in between two gaming machines.
Police noticed the knife and the defendant said it was used for fishing.
He told police he had been fishing around 45 minutes prior and forgot to remove it from his pocket.
“I was in a hurry, I was not even thinking about it,” Leddin told the court.
Leddin said he received the knife as a present and did not have any other use for it.
He understood it was an offensive weapon.
Magistrate Jack Fahey was shown photographs of the knife by prosecutors.
“It does not look like a fishing knife,” Magistrate Fahey said.
Magistrate Fahey elected to convict the defendant and impose a small fine for the offence.
