http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15327935.Taxi_driver_caught_on_duty_with_meat_cleaver/A TAXI driver was caught on duty with a meat cleaver in his glovebox.
Police stopped Michael McCartney and searched his private hire vehicle, where they found he had a large machete in the car.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Barry Divers was handed the blade - in a protective case - by the deputy procurator fiscal so that he could “see the heft of it.”
The 44-year-old’s defence lawyer said the metal cleaver had “made it’s way from the kitchen to his car” but that the reason for carrying the blade was not clear.
McCartney was caught with the weapon on May 24, 2016 on Southbank Road on Kirkintilloch while he was working.
His defence brief said: “This has been a gross error of judgment on his part.
“This item made its way from the kitchen of his home to his car.
“It is a serious matter, My Lord.
“That your Lordship will take an extremely dim view of that is expected. He appears to have said all the right things to the author of the [criminal justice social work] report in respect of the use of such items in the community.
“He asks me to offer his apologies to the court for this incident.”
McCartney, from Kirkintilloch, who the court heard had been a taxi driver for 23 years and has been 16 years with the same firm, was joined in court by his wife and his lawyer who added that McCartney’s “home circumstances are exemplary.”
He is a private hire driver registered with East Dunbartonshire Council.
The court heard the father-of-four has children aged 24, 17, 11 and five,
Sheriff Divers said: “This court is bound to take very seriously the fact a taxi driver is driving around in his cab with a weapon of this nature.
“In the circumstances I am satisfied that is not appropriate for me to fine you.”
The sheriff handed McCartney a Community Payback Order that will see him complete 250 hours of unpaid work within six months.
Sheriff Divers added that Police Scotland is entitled to bring the case to the East Dunbartonshire Council licensing committee.
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