If God wanted Joell Emmeul Tyrrell to have a knife, "He would have grown it for him", Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves told him yesterday.

Tyrrell, 34, of Pembroke, admitted being in possession of the pocket knife, and said it was for his own protection.

Crown counsel Koshea Scott said Police found the knife when Tyrrell was being searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act on February 9.

When arrested, Tyrrell told Police that he had the knife for his protection and said "you know how things are out here".

Tyrrell said: "I didn't know that having a pocket knife was illegal."

Before fining him $250, Mr. Greaves said: "If God had wanted you to have it, then he would have grown it for your protection.

"I used to carry a licensed gun in Barbados. When people p***** me off, I would think - I could pop a shot in that fellow.

"Knives and guns do that to you - they make good people foolish.

"I had that gun for two years before I handed it in to the Police, but I kept the licence. I may still need it one day."