Candice Hood arrested at Newmarket Hotel for allegedly carrying an offensive weapon - nail scissors

A woman charged with carrying an offensive weapon at a Port Adelaide pub has told a court the object in question was just nail scissors.

A Seaton woman appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today following an incident at the Newmarket Hotel.

An incident at Port Adelaide’s Newmarket Hotel has landed a woman in court but she claims the nail scissors found on her at the pub were for personal hygiene reasons.

Candice Sherridan Hood, 44, appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with disorderly behaviour, carrying an offensive weapon, refusing to give her name and address and failing to comply with a bail agreement.

The charges relate to an incident that occurred on November 13 last year.

A police prosecutor told the court Hood, of Seaton, was approached at the pub by a staff member after they saw what they believed to be a knife on her.

“At 1.30pm on Friday, November 13 the defendant was in the gaming room at the Newmarket Hotel,” the police prosecutor said.

“A witness saw the defendant pull out some type of object out of a black coin cup, that she then put in her pocket.

“At this time, it was believed to be either a small knife or scissors.

Candice Sherridan Hood faced court on Tuesday after she was arrested at the Newmarket Hotel in Port Adelaide. Picture: Paula Thompson

“The witness – a staff member – has approached the defendant and asked her what it was. At this time, she became agitated and began to raise her voice.

“The witness has tipped the coin cup over to see what was in it. The defendant has then yelled, calling her a liar and a thief.

“The witness repeatedly asked the defendant to keep her voice down and calm down however she began to get louder and other patrons became agitated at the disturbance that was taking place.”

The court heard police attended and requested the name of the defendant, who said it was Candice Wilson rather than Hood.

Police also allegedly located a small pair of nail scissors in her pocket.

Hood, who represented herself, said the scissors were simply for her own personal hygiene use.

“So can I not do personal hygiene (outside of the home)? Is that only restricted to my house?” she said.

Magistrate John Wells said he was not convinced the scissors represented carrying an offensive weapon.

The matter was adjourned to February 16.