Ross Hopwood, who appeared from Low Moss Prison, Bishopbriggs, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the blade on September 9.

Malcolm McLeod, fiscal depute, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week that Hopwood, 31, had been with his brother at their parents’ house on the evening in question.

At 9.30pm, Hopwood went into the kitchen and took a knife from a drawer, placing it in the right sleeve of his jacket.

The court heard he then left the property, saying he was going to a friend’s house in Alexandria. Mr McLeod said Hopwood’s brother waited for an hour but Hopwood did not return. Concerned for his safety, his brother contacted police.

Officers attended at 11pm and it was heard they took down details, including a description of Hopwood and his possible whereabouts.

Police then started searching for Hopwood and found him walking in Lynn Walk, Balloch. Officers approached him and noted he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The court heard police searched Hopwood and the blade was recovered from within his right jacket sleeve. He was then arrested.

Defending, Peter Young said Hopwood accepted he faced a custodial sentence.

Sentencing him to 32 months in jail, Sheriff Tom Ward told Hopwood, who has a string of knife convictions: “You have committed his offence while on home leave from another sentence.

“Taking that into account, there is no other way of dealing with you other than imprisonment.

“If it was open to me to impose a greater sentence than I can today, I would do so.

“Knives are the scourge of this town and other towns and that is how murders are committed.”