A man accused of driving a car at a mother and toddler has been told: "Set one foot in Whitehawk and you go to prison."

Daniel Brennan, 40, narrowly escaped jail yesterday after admitting breaking an earlier injunction aimed at keeping him off the estate.

The court cordon was imposed in April after the judge heard a catalogue of allegations.

Brennan, of Thorndale House, Albion Hill, Brighton, agreed to the injunction after allegedly attacking his neighbours, carrying out racial assaults, vandalism and dealing crack.

He was spotted on the estate by police on Thursday and brought back before the judge.

Judge Michael Kennedy QC said: "In view of the reports I've read I take a very serious view of this.

"It's very, very important that you keep off the estate until the court tells you otherwise.

"There is another young man who behaved not nearly as badly as the council say you behaved who is in Lewes jail for six months because he came back before me twice for breaching an injunction."

Judge Kennedy found the breach proved and gave Brennan a six-month suspended jail sentence.

He told Brennan: "The likelihood is that if you are arrested again on the estate you would come before the judge within 24 hours - and it would probably be me.

"This is a suspended six-month sentence on condition you keep out."

Angharad Hughes, prosecuting for Brighton and Hove City Council, said after the hearing: "The council takes anti-social behaviour very seriously.

"The defendant was alleged to have been involved in drug dealing and violent assaults in Whitehawk.

"In particular he was alleged to have been one of four men who chased another man through the estate carrying between them a lump of wood and a knife.

"This happened as children were coming out of school.

"It was for this reason that we set the injunction.

"It is important the local community is aware of the court order. If he is again seen on the estate it must be reported to the police."