A man described as a danger by the district court judge in Tralee, has been jailed for ten months for knife and drug offences.

32-year-old Kristian Pablaks of no fixed abode, admitted bringing a knife and an improvised blade into Tralee garda station, while also in possession of drugs, earlier this year.

His solicitor, Pat Mann, told the court his client only had the knife to cut bread, as he was homeless at the time.

Mr Pablaks pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife, improvised blade, and cannabis and MDMA at Tralee garda station on 5th April this year.

His solicitor Pat Mann, told the court his client was homeless at the time and someone on the street told him the gardaí were looking for him.

Mr Pablaks then went into the garda station to ask about this, and when he was searched, he was found with the knife, a six-inch nail attached to a bit of timber, €30 worth of cannabis, and €20 worth of amphetamine or MDMA.

Mr Mann said this was a mix of stupidity and naivete, but his client only had the knife to cut bread as he was living on the street, and the improvised blade was to clean coins people gave him, Mr Mann said.

Judge David Waters said this improvised nail was actually a shank.

The court heard that separately, gardaí were called to a disturbance in Abbeydorney just after midnight on 20th October, and found Mr Pablaks outside a house.

Mr Pablaks had a knife in his waistband, which he handed over to gardaí.

Mr Pablaks had 25 previous convictions, and committed these crimes while on bail and while serving a suspended sentence, also for possession of knives.

His solicitor Pat Mann said his knives were never used on anybody, and there was no element of violence involved.

Judge David Waters said he could not understand the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to have Mr Pablaks tried in the district court.

Judge Waters said the DPP can take into account his previous convictions when deciding on jurisdiction, but he cannot.

A higher court would have greater sentencing powers for such crimes.

Judge Waters said this man is a danger, and it was difficult to comprehend the reasoning outlined for why he had possession of knives.

He sentenced him to a total of ten months in prison, and remanded him in custody to 5th November, for a hearing on the activation of his suspended sentence.