A WOMAN who attacked her brother with rhubarb has been told she cannot enter her home village after being accused of breaching an anti-social behaviour order.

Margaret Porter, 51, of Tofts Farm, Newbiggin, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, pleaded not guilty to two charges of breaking the Asbo at Northallerton Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The order was imposed on March 17 after evidence was compiled about her behaviour, which included throwing three sticks of rhubarb at her brother and making inappropriate phone calls.

It stipulated that she cannot act in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress for the next six years.

She returned to Northallerton court last week charged with breaking the order by harassing her son, Anthony Porter. She denied the charge and was released on bail.

She was re-arrested on Monday and held in custody overnight, before appearing at court again yesterday morning, where she was accused of two further breaches of the order.

She is charged with verbally abusing a neighbour on Thursday evening and verbally abusing her son's girlfriend, Louise Handley, on Sunday.

Mrs Porter, who appeared in court in a check shirt, blue jumper and blue trousers, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Xanthe Tait, prosecuting, said she would be happy for Mrs Porter to be released on bail, as long as she stayed with a school friend in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

Magistrates stood the case down for two hours while the address was checked.

They later agreed it was suitable and released her on bail, on the condition that she does not enter the village of Newbiggin or contact any person in the village in any way.

They said the only way she could communicate with people in Newbiggin was through her solicitor.

Mrs Porter asked who would look after her animals, which include a dog and a pony, and was told her solicitor would make the necessary arrangements.

A pre-trial review hearing for all three charges will take place on April 27. A trial date has been provisionally set for May 26 and 27.