A DRUNKEN man seen in the street with a kitchen knife claimed he had been using it earlier at a barbeque in his garden.

Grant Bolton, 50, of North Street, Peebles, admitted having a knife at North Street on May 4.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused had been drinking for most of the day, and was seen with a seven-inch long kitchen knife in his hand.

“The fact he was intoxicated is worrying,” he added.

Bolton’s solicitor said his client had spent the day having a barbeque in the garden and had been using the knife there.

He said he had gone into the street after seeing a man “he wanted to have words with”.

Sentence was deferred until August 27 for reports and a restriction of liberty assessment.