A MAN who was jailed earlier this year for terrorising his mother and stepfather was back in court yesterday after failing to stay away from them.

James Maine, 30, was sent to prison for five months by Harrogate magistrates in February for harassment, damage, assault on police and arson after he set fire to a police station cell.

The court heard how Maine's 55-year-old mother, Lyn Drummond, was scared of what her son would do next following years of violence.

He had entered her home, helped himself to food, gone to sleep in her bed and thrown rocks at her home in Inman Grove, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

He punched a police officer who came to arrest him and set fire to a blanket.

A restraining order banned Maine, of High Street, Knaresborough, from contacting Lyn and Robert Drummond.

Yesterday, Maine was back in court to admit breaching the order by stopping his mother in her car, threatening her and demanding money.

Henry Trory, prosecuting, said that late on March 30, Mrs Drummond saw Maine standing in front of her car as she drove along Blind Lane, Knaresborough. When she stopped, her son threatened her and demanded money.

Mrs Drummond gave him £5 and reported him to police.

Deborah Sadler, in mitigation, said Maine was under the impression he had not to go near Mr and Mrs Drummond's home, but now appreciated the order also banned him from contact elsewhere.

She said he had found himself on the streets and was hungry, so when he saw his mother's car, he waved to attract attention and asked for money for food.

Maine was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order.