John Edward McKillop was charged after the knife was uncovered during a routine security scan on August 13 about 12.20pm.

Security were told the knife was in McKillop’s pocket “to keep it away from his kids.”

Police attended and confiscated the knife, which was taken to the nearby Albury station – where it was measured at 19 centimetres.

“I had no idea it was in my pocket, otherwise I wouldn’t have brought it in,” McKillop, 46, told magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim.

“It was just a pocket knife. It belongs to my son."

Mr Imad Abdul-Karim also began to quiz him over possessing cocaine.

But McKillop quickly pointed out that police had told him they were dropping the charge of possessing a prohibited drug.

McKillop, who police said had “an extensive criminal history” for stealing, traffic and aggravated break and enter offices, said the charge related to white powder that tests revealed was not cocaine.

 Prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Coombs then withdrew the charge.

The court was told that McKillop, who pleaded guilty to custody of a knife in a public place, made no attempt to reveal he had a knife before he was screened.

An “item” was identified when his jacket was put through an X-ray machine.

“The accused,” police said, “informed the security officer that the silver-coloured pocket knife located in the jacket belonged to him.”

Mr Abdul-Karim put McKillop on a six-month bond.

“I accept your explanation it was an honest mistake on your part, that you did not think you had the knife in your pocket,” he said.