Sheriff slams lanarkshire's knife culture as blade offender is jailed

A PERSISTENT OFFENDER WAS CAUGHT WITH A BLADE TWICE IN A FORTNIGHT. 08:50, 30 May 2025 A sheriff has slammed Lanarkshire’s knife culture after a persistent offender was caught with a blade

twice in a fortnight. Kieran Bulloch was followed out of Farmfoods in Union Street, Larkhall, on October 27 by staff who suspected he had been stealing. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard they

confronted him about the bags he was carrying and he said “I’ve got this in my pocket”. Bulloch, 36, produced a knife with a four-inch blade and held it towards the employee who’d challenged

him. The staff members backed off and reported the incident to the police while Bulloch made off on foot. He wasn’t traced at that point but on November 11 police officers had their

attention drawn to a shopkeeper shouting at a man in Quarry Street, Hamilton. They intervened and searched the suspect, who turned out to be Bulloch. A knife was found in his pocket.

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customise your page to the sections that matter most to you. Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Bulloch admitted carrying a knife without reasonable

excuse on two occasions. Defence agent Stephen McQuillan said Bulloch has “significant mental health issues” and asked the court to consider a drug treatment and testing order. But Sheriff

Colin Dunipace jailed him for 26 months, saying it was of “considerable concern” that he’d been caught twice in a matter of days. READ MORE: Hamilton couple renew vows on 56th wedding

anniversaryREAD MORE: Hamilton resident shares World War II memories on Remembrance Day The sheriff told Bulloch: “Your record means I can deal with this only by imposing a custodial

sentence. “Far too many people are walking about the streets of this jurisdiction carrying knives and your record demonstrates you have done this on a large number of occasions. “The message

has to go out that anyone who carries a knife in this jurisdiction is facing a long custodial sentence.” _*DON'T MISS THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM AROUND LANARKSHIRE. SIGN UP TO OUR

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