A man who called a disabled transgender woman a weirdo in the street and punched her in the arm has been handed a restraining order.

Joseph Ernest Michael Wills, 63, of Wellington Close, Camborne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Hope Tatum Whittard at Camborne on October 2.

He claimed he did not know the meaning of homophobia, his solicitor Alex Blair told Truro magistrates.

Gail Hawksley, for the CPS, said the victim was travelling on her mobility scooter towards Wellington Road in Camborne and saw Wills who shouted out “weirdo” at her, following this with a threat that he would kill her and the next time he saw her he would have a knife with him.

Wills then punched her to the top of her arm before walking off.

He told the police later: “It was homophobic, you can say that, I don’t mind.”

Wills, who had no previous convictions, had mental health issues and suffered from schizophrenia the court heard.

He had just been diagnosed with throat cancer.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge, and a restraining order for 12 months not to approach the victim, and told to pay £100 compensation, plus £100 costs and victim surcharge to the court.