A woman made threats and kicked a police officer whilst possessing a knife in Falmouth.

Siobhan Jade Osborne, 19, of Henver Road, Newquay, appeared in Truro Magistrates Court facing a string of charges.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in Falmouth on October 10, possessing a bladed article (a Stanley knife) and using threatening behaviour.

Prosecuting, Anita Kennett described witness accounts of the incident.

Osborne threatened victims believing that they had a machete although there was no evidence this was true.

Police arrested the 19-year-old at 11.30pm. She told an officer she was going to kill herself and she was put in a police van.

She lashed out and kicked Sergeant Vincent in the knee. The police officer was not injured but suffered pain and discomfort.

Osborne has previous convictions including a community order issued for assaulting an emergency worker and stealing from a shop in February.

She was given a conditional discharge earlier this year for possession of Cannabis.

Sitting in the dock at Truro Magistrates Court on Monday, Osborne appeared distraught and repeatedly interrupted proceedings before being told by magistrates to keep quiet.

Mitigating, Rob Eccleston spoke about how the defendant "is an extremely vulnerable young lady who has a multitude of different issues."

He spoke about how his client went into care at the age of 13.

She came out of care recently and lived with an individual who sexually assaulted her, after which she became homeless for two weeks.

On October 10, he said, she was sexually assaulted by a different individual.

Mr Eccleston said: "It would seem she's somebody very open to exploitation if she is not in safe hands."

He added: "Although her actions were wrong it was not her intention to hit that officer. She accepts that."

The solicitor spoke about how there was a place reserved for her at the Amber Foundation in Okehampton (a young person's support centre) if magistrates decided not to put her in custody.

He said: "It seems as though pretty much everything has been tried here in Cornwall to help her. It's at that stage where she needs a fresh start."

Four support workers from Addaction and other agencies attended the hearing and were ready to transport Osborne on to the facility.

Magistrates decided to hand Osborne a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months for the three charges relating to the incident.

The sentences will run concurrently and no separate penalty was imposed for breaching her conditional discharge.

Osborne left the courtroom with the four support workers.