A DUNFERMLINE man was seen chasing another male in the town centre at lunchtime while armed with a knife.

The incident led to Ryan Compton, 23, of Thane Place, appearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on September 7, at Guildhall Street, Dunfermline, he was unlawfully in possession of a knife.

The court heard that Compton’s partner was being pestered by an ex-boyfriend before the offence.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said that Compton was seen running from a block of flats in the direction of another man.

“He was running in the street with a knife, which he dropped, and he continued to run after the other male, who ran off.

“The accused stopped running, then walked back and picked up the knife before returning into the flats.”

Police were contacted and Compton admitted he had taken the knife and hidden it in his clothing before going out earlier.

The knife had a three-inch blade, added the depute.

Defence solicitor Barbara Collie said her client had been at his girlfriend’s home when a male came to the door asking for her.

It was her ex-boyfriend and later he also approached her in the street.

“He took the knife with him to go out. He realises it was extremely stupid and that he should have phoned the police but he feared for the safety of his partner,” added the solicitor.

Sheriff Charles MacNair told Compton: “You took a knife out to confront somebody. When that happens, there is every chance that the knife will be used and have lethal consequences.

“Carrying knives is a real difficulty in this society and the public expects the courts to deal with this seriously.”

The sheriff imposed a community payback order with 170 hours of unpaid work on first-offender Compton.