An assault on a friend, criminal damage and the possession of cannabis admitted by 38-year-old Christopher Terry led to his being given a total of 24 weeks in prison suspended for two years at Truro Crown Court on Thursday.

Terry, of St Johns Street, Hayle, who was also in breach of a suspended sentence imposed previously, was told by Judge Jeffrey Rucker that if he committed another offence before the end of July next year it was unlikely that he would be treated so leniently again.

The judge also imposed a Saturday night curfew for the next four weeks.

Prosecutor Ron Ede said that in April Terry had been drinking with a friend in the Copperhouse Inn and then invited him back to his caravan where they continued drinking until Terry out of the blue accused the other man of having taken £120 from him. The man was struck in the face and came around to find Terry had his hands around him throat and was repeatedly punching him. The man was taken to Treliske Hospital suffering from facial injuries.

In May Terry was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and when searched cannabis fell from his under clothes, and on June 15 he smashed a window at the home of a woman who told him their five-week relationship was over.

Defending, Barry White said that Terry worked full time during the day and afterwards got drunk and committed crimes. He was yet to complete domestic violence and addressing substance abuse programmes imposed on him earlier.

"It would be of benefit to him and the community if he managed to complete these programmes," said Mr White.