Threatening to kill his mother and petrol bomb her boyfriend's house led to a Falmouth man appearing in court last week.

Joshua James Cooper, of Tresawle Road, pleaded guilty at Truro's magistrates' court to breaching a bail condition not to go to the address in Killigrew Street, guilty to criminal damage to a door lock there, and to using threatening behaviour.

His mother had left her home to stay with her boyfriend, because she wanted to get away from the 21-year-old.

She described to the police how he followed her there and threatened to kill the pair of them and set the place on fire.

Alison May, for the CPS, said Cooper, who had previous cautions, went to his mother's boyfriend's address in Killigrew Street on April 27, banged on the door, shouting that he would kill both of them, smash up the property and set the place alight.

He kicked the door, damaging a bolt, and kept shouting and swearing at them until the police arrived. He threatened to let off fire extinguishers and petrol bomb the house, saying he knew people who would do it.

His mother told police she had suffered much verbal abuse from her son in the past, which she had not had the courage to report.

Deborah Von Kohler, for Cooper, said he had a drink problem which was crying out to be assessed.

The case was adjourned for a probation report.