POLICE searching for a man reported to be breaching a restraining order by being at his mum's, looked out of a bedroom window and saw him in the back yard.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Ismail ran away but was arrested the following day.

Ismail, 23, of Hancock Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and made subject to a community order with 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the restraining order was put in place to protect the defendant's mother.

"He is allowed to have contact with his mum but not to enter Palatine Road where she lives," said Mr Robinson.

"The police received information that he was living at his mother's address.

"When they attended his mum said he wasn't there and allowed them in to search."

Mr Robinson said as the officers were searching upstairs they looked out of the window and saw Ismail leaving the back yard.

He said there had been previous breaches of the order, the last in August when Ismail was jailed for 20 weeks for the latest breach and two suspended prison sentences.

Ghafar Khan, defending, the defendant and his sister, who also lives at the address in Palatine Road, didn't get on and his mother had been forced to make a choice of who was allowed to stay.

"There have been a number of breaches but no other issues or offences involving his mum who he meets with on a regular basis," said Mr Khan.

"There is a cellar type room, with entry from the rear yard, and he has been staying there on occasions with his mother's consent.

"She also invites him round for food."