A neighbour from hell became the first man in England to be jailed under new legislation.

Ricky Fitzgerald, 27, from Bewbush, Crawley, was sentenced to nine months yesterday for breaching an injunction banning him from anti-social behaviour.

It followed a prosecution brought by Downlands Housing Association on June 30, the same day landlords were given the powers to do so.

Brighton County Court had ordered Fitzgerald not to behave in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and not to use foul language.

The injunction also banned him from threatening violence to anyone or driving without a driving licence, MOT, tax and insurance.

New legislation allows social landlords to bring action against people who are not their tenants but cause problems for people living in homes owned by them.

Several neighbours from Fitzgerald's former home in The Highlands, Cuckfield, appeared as witnesses to testify against him after he was arrested for breaching the injunction.

Judge Hayward yesterday told Brighton County Court Fitzgerald was "the neighbour from hell" after hearing a catalogue of abuse, threats and intimidation.

He jailed Fitzgerald for nine months for driving in a dangerous manner and putting people at risk and for three months, to run concurrently, for entering Cuckfield when he tried to kick down the door of his former home.

Police handed the court five pages of complaints made to them about Fitzgerald during the last 18 months.

Before the injunction Fitzgerald had threatened nearby residents with baseball bats and a hammer, used verbal abuse, driven his car on the pavement and into the wall of a neighbour's house after arguing with him and had regular fights in the street.

One witness had been forced to move house because of the defendant's behaviour.

Fitzgerald lived with his mother and younger brother until they were evicted on July 7 following "a sustained and intolerable catalogue of anti-social behaviour", the court heard.

Housing association area manager Kevin Day said after the hearing: "I was amazed and absolutely elated at the sentence. It shows we can really take action against people and it works. It sends a message out to people who behave like this that they've had their day."