A DRUG addict who terrorised his family with a knife until he was disarmed by a police officer was jailed for three years yesterday.

Neil King, 34, had earlier been jailed for 13 months for breaching a restraining order designed to protect his elderly grandparents.

But two days after his prison release, he turned up at his mother Margaret Powell's house, in Sleights Crescent, Eston.

He kicked the door in, shouted abuse and threatened to kill the terrified 56-year-old.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said King, who had eight convictions for violence including assaults on police, had a 9in kitchen knife and was shouting: "Mam let me in, I want to get them upstairs".

He then moved on to his grandparents' home, in Chestnut Close, Lazenby, where the police had fitted a panic alarm, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting.

King began to shout abuse at his 75-year-old grandfather, Denis Powell, shouting: "I'm going to stab someone".

His grandfather recalled later: "I was very frightened, I believed that he would carry out his threats to stab someone."

PC Hugh Doherty, who was working alone, arrived and King told him he had a knife.

He was told to drop it on the ground and he did, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Mr Dodds said: "In interview, he said he always carried a knife, and he had it with the intention of using it to stab people who bothered him."

Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said: "He was homeless, the police came and arrested him and he is not homeless any more."

Judge George Moorhouse told King: "Within two days of being released from custody you are out again harassing your mother and grandparents.

"Your mother was scared stiff and this kind of behaviour has gone on for many years.

"I have read a psychiatric report about you and there is nothing psychiatrically wrong with you.

"On the other hand, when you take amphetamine it does make you paranoid and highly dangerous."

King, of no fixed address, but formerly of Eston, was jailed for three years.

He pleaded guilty to affray on August 26, causing £490 damage to a door at his mother's home and breach of a restraining order at his grandparents' home.

He also admitted possessing the kitchen knife as an offensive weapon.