A drug addict who demanded money from his mother to fund his habit and then subjected her to "vile abuse" has been spared jail after she pleaded for his freedom.

James Huntley, of no fixed address, was told by Judge Robert Linford that he was "lucky she's standing by you" and "she deserves better" as he sentenced the 31-year-old at Truro Crown Court.

The prosecution said Huntley had been drinking heavily since 2011, used cannabis and eventually became addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Over an extended period of between December 2015 and November 2020 he would demand money from his mother in Truro to pay for drugs, and the prosecutor said: "When she could not provide for his drug addiction by giving money or lifts to collect the drugs he would subject her to vile abuse.

"He would make derogatory comments, threats that if demands were not met she would be stabbed. There was damage to her property – a ceiling smoke alarm and her rear car window."

On that occasion, dating back to 2016, his mother had taken refuge in her car. Huntley had gone outside demanding that they talk and banged on the rear windscreen so hard it smashed.

"The victim spent each day in fear of the defendant's demands," said the prosecutor, who added: "She has had to make sacrifices to meet her son's demands."

These included regularly pawning her mobile phone to get money for her son, then buying it back only to have to pawn it again.

She had been forced to turn to foodbanks to eat on occasion and had received a notice for eviction due to her son's anti-social behaviour.

"She has been in real dire straits," said the prosecutor, who said Huntley admitted damaging her property and also asking his mother for money, although in his view it was a loan that he would pay back.

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However, in a statement to the court his mother said: "I just want him to get some help."

This was described by Huntley's barrister, Robin Smith, as "very generous" of the mother, adding: "It is something the defendant is acutely aware of."

Sentencing Huntley, Judge Linford told him: "You frankly abused your mother. You blackmailed her in all but the legal definition.

"You demanded to know where she was, threatened her, broke the window of her car when she was trying to get away. She couldn't pay her bills. It was awful what you put your mother through.

"It is immensely to her credit she stands by you – she doesn't want to see you go to prison and she says she loves you."

He sentenced him to a 12-month alcohol treatment requirement, 12 sessions of mental health treatment and 25 rehabilitation activity days.

The judge also ordered a restraining order preventing Huntley from going to his mother's address for two years, and told him: "You do not ask your mum for money – she can't afford it. It puts a lot of pressure on her and makes her upset. She deserves better than that.

"She's clearly a good woman and you're lucky she's standing by you."