A MANCHESTER man arrested for sitting in a Falmouth street, swearing at passers-by and ranting about "peas and beans" claims he had his drink spiked by a woman.

Clifton Thompson, 56, of Daisy Bank Road, alias Paul Adams, spent a night in a police station after the incident in Church Street on August 12.

He appeared in Truro Magistrates Court this morning (Monday September 2) facing a charge of being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Prosecutor Alison May described how police received reports of a man sitting in the middle of the road at around 5.45pm that day.

Officers arrived to find Thompson in Church Street sitting cross-legged facing away from traffic and shouting obscenities at people in the street, making "repetitive comments about peas and beans".

Police tried to identify him before he went back and sat in the road, when he was warned that he would be arrested.

Thompson continued, was arrested and spent the night in a cell.

Defending himself today, he said: "I got spiked by some woman. She got my keys - I got robbed blind by a woman and that's all there was to it. I have got no recollection of it."

He went on to say that he had no money to pay a fine, adding "I'm on sardines and noodles at the moment."

Thompson described how he lives in Wythenshawe, Manchester, but has three children in Cornwall with whom he has had little contact as he was incarcerated when he was younger.

He asked magistrates to take into account the fact that he has not been in front of the courts in ten years.

Sentencing him, the chair of the magistrates said: "Things happen in people's lives and sometimes our instincts can lead us to alcohol. You're of an age to say I have been there, done that and to think more about it in the future."

The defendant was sentenced to a £40 fine, a £32 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

The magistrate added: "Because you spent a night in custody we have decided that's sufficient to cover that penalty. We leave the matter finished.

"Be careful what you consume, if you think someone has spiked your drink, stop drinking it. Your actions were upsetting to many people.

"You're old enough and mature enough to understand that. Have a safe trip back to Wythenshawe."