A MAN who ignored a restraining order 18 times and repeatedly turned up at his parents’ home has been jailed for 18 months.

Lee Smith committed the latest offence just two weeks after he was given a suspended prison sentence for a previous breach of the court order.

Jailing 39-year-old Smith for 18 months, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton told him that a period in custody would give him time to address his drug problems and begin treatment for his schizophrenia.

Smith, of Bridgeman Place, Bolton, who appeared at Bolton Crown Court via a video link from Forest Bank Prison, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order again.

Julian Goode, prosecuting, told how the restraining order had been imposed in 2013, preventing Smith from visiting his parents’ home in Farnworth.

As his mother’s health deteriorated it was later varied to allow him to visit their kitchen so long as he made a prior appointment.

Mr Goode said that Smith’s father, 72-year-old Clifford Smith, returned home at 10pm on June 7, but as he locked up he heard a loud banging on the door.

“Initially Mr Smith didn’t realise who it was and opened the door. He then saw the defendant who was asking if he could enter the property,” said Mr Goode.

Lee Smith refused to leave and started shouting through the letter box and so police were called.

Rachel Faux, defending, said Smith accepted he had attended the house uninvited but had been confused by the alteration to the restraining order which allowed him to visit by agreed appointment.

She told the court that, on that evening, Smith had a disagreement with someone and had gone to the house to speak to his parents and ask for a cup of water.

“Until his long-standing problems are addressed then this is something which is going to keep on happening,” she said.