POLICE found a knife on a intoxicated man to whom they gave a lift home, Truro magistrates heard this morning.

James Anthony Batten, aged 42, was seen by members of the public weaving in and out of the A390 in Truro, whilst on foot on October 6 last year.

Prosecutor Alison May said that concerns for his safety resulted in a call to police, who found him on the roundabout outside the hospital at Treliske.

He explained that he was trying to go to an Addaction appointment, but police told him that it was not open on Sunday.

He accepted their offer of a lift home to nearby Centenary Way and when he emptied his pockets in search of his house keys, he was found to have a knife in his possession.

When police took the knife from him, he became "abusive and aggressive" said Mrs May.

Defending Batten, Rob Eccleston said that he had battled addiction to opiates for 27 years.

Last year he had a residential detox but had relapsed in August, resulting in this offence on October.

Mr Eccleston said that Batten suffers from mental health issues including PTSD and chronic anxiety, for which he takes three types of medication.

He said the defendant had no recollection of the day in question, but that he had not carried the weapon for an offensive purpose.

Batten, who pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, was given a two-year conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £21 victim surcharge.