A PROFESSIONAL singer who was caught with two knives in a his bag claimed one of them was a piece of art.

Joe Smith, who has performed on London’s West End stage, visited the passport office on Milton Street, after his passport expired while he was working in Glasgow.

After entering the office, he was told by security that he would have to undergo a bag search.

Smith, 35, was asked if there was any sharp objects in his rucksack by a security guard.

Two knives were then found in the bag, one with a cutting edge of 9cm and another with a cutting edge of 19cm.

The guard then contacted his manager and police who informed him of his arrest.

In response to hearing the charges, Smith of Northchurch Road in London, said: “I didn’t know it was in my bag” and that he “didn’t know it was illegal to have a knife that size”.

Smith appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to having an article which had a blade, namely two knives.

His defence agent told the court that his client, a professional singer, had been in Glasgow for work for two weeks prior to the incident.

He had to renew his passport and had gone to the passport office not knowing the items were in his bag.

Smith advised that one of the knives was an art piece that he made in a studio and was inside a leather sheath.

As the performer lives in London, it was noted that he carries the bag around everywhere with him when he travels for work.

Sheriff McCartney commented that she had been made aware of Smith’s work commitments which would deem him unsuitable for a restriction of liberty order.

She said: “It is your responsibility to carry out the work that you are given.”

Smith was ordered to carry out 175 hours of unpaid work within a period of nine months.