THE star witness in the trial of a man found guilty of pulling out a man's fingernails with a pair of pliers has appeared in custody before West Cornwall magistrates.

Christopher Topping, 36, of no fixed abode, Redruth was charged with being drunk and disorderly on March 19 at the junction of Falmouth Road and Trewirgie Road and failing to answer bail.

He was also in breach of a two-year conditional discharge given for an earlier offence of being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.

Anita Kennett, prosecuting, said the original charges came about when police were called to a report of a drunken male being aggressive and difficult and he was arrested. While they were trying to get him into the police van he kicked out and connected with a police officer's knee.

On Thursday he appeared in custody before magistrates escorted with injuries to his face having been arrested the previous day.

Curtis Lewis, defending, said his client's life had become a misery since he had given key evidence at Truro Crown Court last year leading to the conviction of the man who had tortured his victim.

"He was the star witness in the trial of a defendant from Camborne who had a penchant for taking pliers to people's fingers," said Mr Lewis.

"Since then his life has been made a misery and the injuries you see are a result of somebody taking revenge on him as this person was put away for a long time. For the last couple of nights he has been sleeping in the woods.

"He is set upon when he picks up his prescription from the chemist because somebody wants the Valium he is being given for his depression."

For failing to answer his bail Topping was fined £50 with no separate penalty for being drunk and disorderly. No action was taken for the breach of the conditional discharge.

Topping was unable to pay the fine because he had no money and was confined to the precincts of the court for the rest of the day.