AN EX-CONVICT who drove his mother to a nervous breakdown is behind bars for eight months and banned from contacting his parents or going near their home.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Harry and Freda Rushton felt intimidated by son David's presence and feared for their safety and property.

He had turned up at their home uninvited. They had been afraid of his past actions and had asked him to leave.

His mother, whose picture he had burned, had had a nervous breakdown because of his behaviour.

Rushton also harrassed his girlfriend Victoria Brierley, thumped her and threw a knife at her and her six-year-old daughter as she ran into the street to get away.

The court was told the couple were reconciled, intended to make a future together and his barrister claimed Rushton wanted to treat those who loved him with respect, though he had disowned his parents.

Rushton, 25, of Caldervale Guest House, Oswald Street, Burnley, admitted common assault and two counts of harassment and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

Sentencing him, Judge David Pirie said Rushton had a history of losing control and threatening people and had made particularly graphic and unpleasant threats to Miss Brierley.

He went on: "You have to realise that violence or threats of violence to other people, even if its a young woman who later forgives you, will not be tolerated."

Rushton was placed under a three-year restraining order prohibiting him from communicating with his parents. He was also banned from approaching within 400 metres of their home on Bentley Street, Nelson.

David Temkin, prosecuting, said Miss Brierley suffered brusing to her left eye and the defendant regularly contacted her and threatened her with violence.

Richard Hunt, defending, said during the two months Rushton had been in custody, he had been visited by Miss Brierley, phoned her, sent her 40 to 50 letters and received a similar number back.When the defendant was released from custody, they were going to resume a relationship.