A MAN who was the first person in the country to be given an ASBO for domestic violence has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how David Grimes, 27, of Penistone Street, Burnley, had earlier been given a chance to remain free, despite serious offending. But his relationship with the Probation Service had now broken down.

Grimes, who the court was told had been a criminal for more than 11 years, was jailed for nine months.

In November Grimes was given an ASBO for domestic violence.

Police said he was the first person in the country to receive an ASBO for that type of crime.

Officers said Grimes had beaten up his girlfriends for years.

And earlier this month his mother Linda, 48, of Whitegate Gardens, Padiham, told the Lancashire Telegraph that her son was not a thug, but an alcoholic who needed help.

Judge Pamela Badley told Grimes that in recent weeks he had mixed with people and been at a place he was not allowed to under the ASBO.

She told Grimes, who has spent 92 days on remand, he would have a "clean slate" on his release.

Grimes had admitted breaching a nine-month custodial term, suspended for two years, and the two-year ASBO.

Martin Hackett, prosecuting, told the court the suspended sentence, with a curfew and supervision, had been imposed on September 29, for common assault and possessing an offensive weapon.

Last July, at about 9.45pm, Katie Lambert, who lived in the same flats as the defendant, was at the door, arguing with a neighbour.

Grimes, who had been drinking, got involved, went towards her and brought a hand from behind his back.

She could see he had a knife, with a blade about five inches in length.

The defendant then lunged forward in a stabbing motion but Miss Lambert evaded it and went into her home and shut the door.

Mr Hackett said Christopher McKillop, who Katie Lambert had been arguing with, disarmed the defendant.

Police were called and found Katie Lambert distressed. Grimes was arrrested and questioned.

He accepted he had been drinking and had been there, but denied ever having a knife.

When police put the weapon before him, he said he did not recognise it.

The prosecutor said Grimes had also been given the ASBO, which banned him from being drunk in public, from associating with Sandra and Robert Hayhurst and from going on Whitegate Close, Padiham, or entering properties on it.

On November 8, he had been arrested after being found at Whitegate Close with Mr Hayhurst.

Mr Hackett said Grimes had a criminal record of 37 offences, dating back to July 1995.

Philip Holden, defending, said Grimes had started to comply with the suspended sentence order while he was living with his mother.

But Mr Holden said they then had a row, he was living a nomadic existence on friends' floors and he returned to drinking to excess daily.