A Falmouth man has admitted assaulting a police officer in an incident that took place in the town on Saturday afternoon. 

Thomas Stephen Opie, 24, of Laburnum Drive, also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood to police.

Police closed North Parade in both directions following the incident on Saturday, causing long delays from the A39 Falmouth Road in Penryn and from Esperanza Court in the other direction.

The air ambulance is reported to have landed on the playing field at the nearby Dracaena Centre, causing a local football match which was in progress to be abandoned.

Opie spent his weekend in the cells and appeared at Truro Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon, sporting a black eye (Monday October 14).

He was released on bail to receive treatment for his alcohol addiction before being sentenced. 

Prosecuting him yesterday, Alison May said that Saturday's incident was a "straightforward" case.

She said that Opie failed to provide a specimen of his blood to police and assaulted a PC Armitage by kicking him.

Mitigating, Rob Eccleston spoke about how his client is "vulnerable" and has struggled with alcohol addiction since losing his grandmother.

He asked magistrates to take into account Opie's "relatively low IQ of 73" as well as his desire to stop drinking.

Mr Eccleston said: "He has been drinking a quite eye-watering amount of alcohol in recent days.

"That seems to have been brought on by a couple of factors: the loss of grandmother who he was very close to and the loss of the family home in Meadowbank Road, in which he has lived most of his life.

"He wants to solve his alcohol problem but doesn't know how to go about it."

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Mr Eccleston asked magistrates to adjourn Opie's sentencing so that he can receive treatment for his addiction and that he be bailed to an address in Camborne.

He added: "Because of this little spate of offending an injunction has been granted preventing him from visiting certain areas of Falmouth.

"He in fact wants to move out of Falmouth. He's a vulnerable person and open to exploitation there."

Mr Eccleston pointed out that Opie is being supported by his cousin, who also attended the court hearing.

He said: "If the court agreed to Addaction [treatment] she would drag him there herself."

Magistrates agreed to adjourn the sentencing until November 19 so that Opie can undergo treatment.

The chairman of the bench said: "You must go to meet with Addaction. We have heard from your solicitor today that you are drinking excessively but equally we have heard you're willing to turn that around.

"You have to demonstrate you're willing. They're going to give you quite a tough time because it's an expensive course. If they feel you're just playing a game they will refuse it."

Magistrates imposed a condition that Opie must "live and sleep" at an address in Camborne whilst he is on bail or else he will be back in custody.