Terrified families lay helpless in their beds as a drunken gang of thugs rampaged through their housing block.

The yobs shouted and screamed obscenities, before ring-leader Daniel Douglass, 21, punched his fist through the front door of one of the flats.

The mayhem, at 5.30am, followed a party in Douglass's bedsit, in Orchard Cottages, Cuckfield, which had kept his neighbours awake all night.

For those living around him it was the culmination of 12 months of disturbances which began when Douglass moved in on August 3 last year.

They told their landlords, New Downland Housing Association, how Douglass had invited up to 25 of his friends around for all-night drinking binges.

Yesterday, shaven-headed Douglass reluctantly signed an undertaking promising to behave himself after a hearing at Haywards Heath County Court.

If he breaks that promise he could be jailed for up to a year for contempt of court.

He has been given a month to leave before the housing association launches a legal bid to have him evicted because of rent arrears.

In a court statement, one of the neighbours wrote: "There was a party which began on June 29, with perhaps 25 youths, and it continued until 3.30am the following morning."

He told how the party had kept him and his wife awake all night. He said the noise was so deafening it drowned out the sound of his TV.

Housing officer Kevin Day told District Judge John Robinson how Douglass had made life unbearable for his neighbours.

He said there had been shouting before the binge ended with Douglass punching his fist through the reinforced window of a tenant's front door.

Judge Robinson told Douglass: "The landlords have received numerous complaints about the behaviour of yourself and your visitors. The evidence is that you have no intention of changing your lifestyle because complaints continue.

"Other residents are fearful of repercussions if they challenge you or your visitors."

Douglass admitted the allegations of causing a nuisance and told the court he was currently an in-patient at a local hospital where he is being assessed for psychiatric problems.

He said: "To be absolutely honest with you, I don't want to live in that flat any more. I know this behaviour is unacceptable."

Douglass is due to return to court on August 3 when the association will bring proceedings against him for debts.

A spokeswoman for the association said: "New Downland Housing Association is committed to dealing with cases of anti-social behaviour. We will not hesitate to apply to the courts when there is sufficient evidence to support an application and where, as in today's cases, the behaviour warrants swift action."