A MAN from St Austell has admitted a series of offences including threatening to stab people.

After appearing in court in Cornwall, James Thornton, 42, of Trewhiddle Court, was given a community order and was ordered do 100 hours of unpaid work.

The court said he must have treatment for his alcohol use and his mental health and he was told to pay £85 costs. His unpaid work hours were reduced because he had spent seven weeks in custody.

Thornton pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour at St Austell Bus and Railway Station on April 1, to breaching a criminal behaviour order (CBO) at Moorland Road, St Austell, on July 18 by threatening to stab people and, at St Austell on July 27, when he was drunk and in possession of an open container of alcohol in a public place, and to using threatening behaviour towards a woman in St Austell on March 20 and 24 and April 1. He was found not guilty of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a hammer, on the Pentewan Valley Trail on July 27.

St Austell Police, posting online after the case was heard, said: “James Thornton appeared at court for sentencing following his remand in prison by the courts on July 27 after committing numerous offences whilst on bail. He was sentenced to five counts of public order offences and breaching a criminal behaviour order.

“On April 4, Thornton was first arrested and charged after behaving in a threatening and confrontational manner to women in St Austell town centre in several incidents from late March to early April.

“He was initially released on court bail and was due to be sentenced on August 4. However, while on bail he was arrested and charged again after using threatening behaviour towards a woman in the town and breaching his newly-imposed CBO.

“The court decided to not impose an additional term of imprisonment and he has now been released with a community order. This includes an alcohol, mental health and rehabilitation treatment together with an unpaid work requirement.

“The issue of the community order was the decision of the court and not the police. We are aware of the impact that Thornton’s behaviour had on the local community, especially the women who were exposed to his behaviour. We did present a significant amount of evidence to the court which detailed Thornton’s offending behaviour and the impact it had on the victims and witnesses.

“The CBO will remain in place for two years and any further breaches could result in a prison sentence.

“Violence, intimidation and harassment against women and girls will not be tolerated, and we will continue to pursue and take robust action against those responsible and put them before the courts.

“No-one should be made to feel unsafe, threatened or intimidated where they live, work or visit.”