A PERSISTENT knife offender caught for the FOURTH time with a blade on the streets of Greenock is today beginning a 19-month prison term.

Mark Gibson told police that he was carrying the lock-back knife 'for protection'.

He made the comment after officers stopped him for a drugs search on South Street.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told Gibson: "This is shocking — you have had a knife again on the streets of Greenock for a fourth time."

Gibson was released seven months early from a prison sentence for his previous knife offence and was out on licence when he was caught on September 17.

He pleaded guilty through lawyer David Tod, who told Greenock Sheriff Court: "He accepts the inevitable outcome from his appearance today.

"I have no instructions to mitigate the matter."

Prosecutor Claire Rowan told how the attention of police was drawn to Gibson because he was smelling of cannabis.

Ms Rowan said: "Two grams of cannabis was recovered from a bag the accused was carrying.

"Thereafter, a blue lock-back knife with a three-inch blade was recovered from the waistband of his shorts.

"He was cautioned and charged and replied: 'It's for protection'."

Sheriff McIntyre told Gibson: "People are concerned about the prevalence of knives on the streets.

"You are not yet finished your last sentence for possession of a knife."

Sheriff McIntyre returned Gibson to prison for the remainder of his previous term and imposed a consecutive further 12 months for the knife and cannabis offences.

The sentence has been backdated to September 18 when Gibson, formerly of Nicolson Street, was first remanded in custody on the matter.