A teenager was referred to a treatment court yesterday after he admitted having a knife.

Dominic Every, 18, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to possession of a bladed article.

The court heard that police were on patrol along Par-la-Ville Road in Hamilton when they saw a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger acting suspiciously.

Officers stopped the pair and questioned them. During the interview, Every warned officers that he had a knife on them.

When questioned why, he said: “I had a friend who got stabbed and killed, so I carry it for protection.”

Every was notified that knife possession in a public place was an offence and was arrested.

The incident happened on January 14.

Senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson adjourned his case for mental-health treatment court and released Every, from Southampton, on $2,000 bail.

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