A Vale of Clwyd man who claimed to be his father’s carer was told by a judge: “ You are not caring for him, you are abusing him.”

David Plumb, aged 27, who appeared at Llandudno magistrates’ court, was banned from visiting his father Hughie and given a 26-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He must also observe a 7pm – 7am curfew for three months and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

James Neary, prosecuting, said that Plumb, of Berth-y-Glyd, Llandyrnog, had been subject of a criminal behaviour order following numerous complaints about his visits to his father, who lives about 300 yards away in the same village.

Plumb has breached the order twice before and Mr Neary said that police had been called several times by neighbours concerned about his treatment of his father. He was often heard shouting at his father and was seen pushing him.

One woman described the defendant as “an unknown quantity”, adding: “I’m scared of him.

“I live in constant fear of David and what he will do next,” she said.

On one occasion he was heard banging on his father’s door at 3.30am.

Mr Neary said that the son’s behaviour was putting his father’s tenancy at risk because of the impact on the local residents.

Imposing the suspended sentence, District Judge Gwyn Jones told him: “In a small community like that this behaviour is having a significant impact on their lives.”

Plumb, who admitted breaching the order, must not go within 200 metres of his father’s home in Maes Clwyd.