A man who was described as a “thorn in his family’s side” after repeatedly breaching a court order banning him from going to the family home in Colchester will be sentenced next month.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday was James Martin, 26, of no fixed address, who admitted three offences of breaching a non-molestation order, burglary and criminal damage.

Adjourning sentence until the week commencing November 12 for a pre-sentence report Judge David Goodin said Martin had behaved in a “lunatic” way towards his family.

Richard Kelly, prosecuting, described Martin as being “ a thorn in his family’s side” and said he had been banned by a county court non-molestation order from going to his family home.

He said Martin had breached the order by going to the property in Vega Close, Colchester on May 28, May 30 and June 2.

On one occasion he had stolen £10 from his brother’s room and on another he had broken a door during an argument.