He was arrested and gave a reading of 113 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35 to drive, and indicated he he had taken a variety of illegal drugs. He made threats about his own mum and said, "if she is not out of the house when I am out of custody, I will ******* murder her".

Hayles was released on bail with conditions not to contact his mother or go to her address. But he turned up at her Nottingham home on December 16 last year when she was in the kitchen watching television. He swore at her and called her "a prostitute" before boiling the kettle and attempting to pour the water over her.

His brave mum managed to push the kettle and her son away as he told her, "you burned me once, now I'm going to burn you". Some of the water splashed onto her chest and neck, blistering her skin and leaving scalds.

She needed hospital treatment. Her skin is now beginning to heal and pigment is returning. Her statement said he was, "tearing the family apart" and "he had no right to attack her".

Judge Julie Warburton jailed Hayles, who appeared over a video link from HMP Nottingham, and told him he had, on the face of it, bullied his mother. The scalding he caused was the size of an adult hand, she added.

The judge told him: "I have read the victim impact statement from your mother detailing some of the issues she has had to deal with over the last three years and, it is quite apparent to me, she has literally been in despair as to the way you have treated her.

"Your behaviour towards your mother on these occasions and generally on an ongoing basis is quite frankly despicable".

Hayles received 32 months for the December 16 assault on his mum and 12 months in prison consecutively for the earlier assault. He received two months for a separate offence of assaulting a police officer and possessing crystal meth in Clumber Street, Nottingham, on December 13 last year.

A six-month consecutive sentence was imposed for breaching a suspended prison sentence. His total sentence was four years and two months, of which he will serve half. On his release, a restraining order is in place to prevent contact with his mum.