A man said to be “incapable” of obeying a restraining order apart from when he was in prison has been jailed again.

Steven O’Sullivan, aged 28, was arrested after breaching for the 10th time an order banning him from harassing his mother Delyth.

Swansea crown court heard that O’Sullivan had been out of jail for only three days when he breached the order yet again by going to his mother’s home in Fishguard and banging on the front door.

O’Sullivan, whose last known address was High Street, Haverfordwest, admitted breaching the order, made several years ago, and was jailed for eight months.

Ian Ibrahim, prosecuting, said on January 3 Mrs O’Sullivan heard loud bangs on the front door of her home in Heol Cerwyn, Fishguard, while she was ill in bed.

She looked out of a window and saw her son in the garden.

Mrs O’Sullivan ignored the noises but there was more banging an hour later and the police were called.

Officers found a bottle of cider on the front doorstep and saw O’Sullivan nearby, and far closer than the 100 metres stipulated in the restraining order.

After his arrest O’Sullivan claimed he had been taking a short cut to a friend’s house.

His barrister, Paul Hobson, told the court there was little to be said on his behalf, except that he had a problem with alcohol.

Judge Keith Thomas said O’Sullivan did not seem to appreciate the accumulative effect that years of harassment was having on his mother.

“The problem is not simply what you did on this occasion,” he added.

Judge Thomas said he noted that O’Sullivan’s “appalling criminal record” included physical assaults on his mother.

“You are incapable of adhering to none custodial orders made by the courts,” he told O’Sullivan.