A MAN found lying drunk on a busy road in possession of a knife has been jailed for two years.

Leslie Mitchell had five previous convictions for knife crime when he repeated the offence in Dunfermline town centre.

Mitchell, 35, now a prisoner at Perth, was living in Rosyth at the time.

He appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and admitted that on April 26, at Carnegie Drive, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, he was in possession of a knife.

Depute fiscal Sarah Lumsden said two police officers were on patrol and travelling in Carnegie Drive when they observed a man lying on the roadway and it turned out to be Mitchell.

He was heavily intoxicated and admitted: “I’ve got a knife, officer.”

Police then retrieved a kitchen knife with a three-inch blade from his pocket.

Mitchell was arrested but was so intoxicated that he had to be taken to hospital before going to the police station.

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said: “He realises custody is inevitable given his record.

“He has little recollection of these events as he had consumed a large amount of alcohol.

“He had told a friend he was feeling suicidal and had the knife to slit his own throat, as he puts it.

“The only thing that can be said for him is that the knife was in his pocket and he wasn’t brandishing it at anyone.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair told Mitchell: “You have a dreadful record for carrying knives. You have five previous convictions for that offence.”

He jailed Mitchell for two years backdated to April 27, when he was taken into custody.