Web photo machete youth detained

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A Glasgow teenager seen waving a machete in a photograph posted on the web has been detained for 10 months.

Jordan Dunsmore, 18, was charged after police spotted a photo of him posing with the weapon, and a bottle of vodka, on social networking site Bebo.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the picture appeared under the heading "The Glesga Young Teem Gorbals Cumbie".

The teenager, who has a previous conviction for carrying a knife, admitted possessing the machete.

At an earlier hearing prosecutor John Bedford said: "Officers were carrying out an operation targeting individuals depicting themselves online carrying out a variety of offences.

"The officers were able to identify the accused from the photograph and later attended at his home address.

"They questioned the accused on the photograph and Mr Dunsmore admitted to possessing the machete. He was then cautioned and charged."

Custodial sentence

Sentencing Dunsmore, Sheriff Martin Jones told him: "The problem for you is that you have a previous conviction for carrying a knife and you were photographed in a public place carrying a formidable weapon and a bottle of vodka.

"These weapons are routinely used to cause injury and death and as such a custodial sentence is necessary."

Dunsmore's defence lawyer told the court: "This is perhaps a novel and unusual set of circumstances.

"He had a bottle of vodka in one hand and a machete in the other, it was utter folly on his part."