A NUISANCE neighbour who has breached her anti-social behaviour order several times since it was served in March has been sent to jail for 14 days.

Maralynne Birchenough, 52, of Partridge Hill Street, Padiham, appeared before Burnley magistrates yesterday after breaking her bail conditions, made on May 8.

They said she would live at the Hendley Hotel, Colne, not go into Padiham nor licensed premises except the Hendley.

The court was told she was seen by a police officer on May 20 in Partridge Hill Street, Padiham, at 5.10pm and was arrested and taken into custody.

Since having the ASBO served on her, Birchenough was fined twice in March for a breach of the order, served seven days in prison after appearing in court on a third breach on April 24, as well as having separate penalties for being drunk and disorderly.

She then faced an allegation of breaching the order a fourth time on May 7, when at 5.10pm a police officer saw her in a telephone kiosk on Partridge Hill.

When Birchenough started to walk, he noticed she was unsteady and when he spoke to her noticed her words were slurred, her eyes were glazed and she was drunk.

She appeared in court on May 8 and was remanded in custody because the court believed she would commit further offences but she was later given bail by a judge in chambers.

Basil Dearing, defending, said: "She was released on bail to back to the Hendley Hotel. She gets her money on Tuesdays and it gets sent to Padiham, so she went there to collect her book.

"She was seen by a police officer. There was no suggestion she was drunk, all she did wrong was that she was in Padiham.

"During the last three weeks she has had the opportunity to reflect.

"It would be naive of me to try and convince you that she is not going to drink again but she and her husband, who is also a drinker, have decided they will only drink lager and cider, which, apparently, doesn't have the same consequences to their behaviour. It doesn't make her as drunk and cause the aggravation between them.

"The discussion she has had with her husband concluded that they intend to battle on with their relationship."

He suggested that the order should be discharged.

The order was made after a catalogue of incidents which disturbed neighbours particularly between August 14 and December 20, 2002.

It forbids her from using insulting or abusive words or behaviour, shouting and screaming in any manner that may cause harassment or distress, being drunk in the open air, being drunk in an public building.