A MAN admitted it was an act of "stupidity" to pick up a knuckleduster before police found him.

Daniel McSkimming pleaded guilty at his first appearance at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to having an offensive weapon outside a primary school.

The 30-year-old, of McColl Avenue, Alexandria, was stopped on May 3 this year by police and searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act - but they instead found the knuckleduster.

Defence solicitor Stephen McGuire said his client had found it earlier in the evening and "stupidly - that's his word" picked it up. He had it outside Levendale Primary.

"He knows he shouldn't have done it," added Mr McGuire.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: "I'm going to hold back to see if I can avoid sending you to prison."

He was put under social work supervision for 18 months and ordered to do 140 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

His progress will be reviewed in September.