A BELLBRIDGE citizen is upset after having his pocketknife confiscated when he attended a North East court for jury duty.
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John Lieber carries the tool in a waist pouch and expected to have it returned after putting it in a tray for security screening at the court.
But instead he was told he had committed an indictable offence.
"I was flabbergasted and mortified," Mr Lieber said.
"I thought they would collect it and give it back to me.
"I'm not some sort of villain trying to attack the magistrate, I've come out to do jury duty."
Door signs warn of prohibited weapons but Mr Lieber said he did not see them before entering the court.
Mr Lieber produces and sells cleaning products and said he had worn the knife regularly since 1991 and used it for work tasks.
He said he would not have taken the knife into the court if he knew it was illegal.
"The law needs to be changed to provide some sort of commonsense and that is carrying a small pocketknife with foldout blade should be considered as reasonable," Mr Lieber said.
"Many farmers, small business people and traders would be carrying some sort of tool, some sort of knife or box-cutter and they may not be aware of it.
Mr Lieber raised his case at the offices of Victorian politicians Bill Tilley and Tim Quilty following the drama earlier this week.
Under the Court Security Act of 1980 it is an offence to bring a prohibited item on to court premises.
They're classed non-offensive and offensive with the former able to be returned with a receipt and the others kept and given to police.
Offensive items include blades, forks, tweezers and knitting needles.