A DAD-TO-BE caught with a knife avoided jail on Monday - despite having three identical convictions.

Matthew McCusker was snared with the blade while behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf in September 2018.

The 22-year-old was stopped having made eye contact with officers before speeding off in Glasgow’s Cambuslang.

He pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

McCusker, of the city’s Castlemilk, held back tears as Sheriff Patricia Pryce ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work.

The sheriff put him under supervision for 18 months and tagged him for 160 days keeping him indoors between 8pm and 7am.

Sheriff Pryce told McCusker that he only avoided jail as the offence pre-dated another previous conviction for the same offence.

The court heard officers’ attention was drawn to McCusker’s motor as it drove past them.

Prosecutor Flora McCamley said: “The accused stared at them and accelerated sharply.

“Police made attempts to stop him and engaged in a short pursuit along a couple of streets.

“When officers caught up and spoke with the accused they saw a knife pertruding from his right trouser pocket.”

Officers recovered the blade which was thrown on the passenger seat by McCusker who was then arrested.

He later told officers that the blade was a “work tool” before stating he wanted to get the matter “over and done with.”

A visibly upset McCusker told Sheriff Pryce that he has made efforts to change his ways as his partner is giving birth next year.

Sheriff Pryce told McCusker: “You are building up a shocking record for knives, you don’t carry knives for work, you have three previous knife convictions.

“You have a good record for working and have a partner, if you keep carrying a knife you run the risk of using it.”