A SON has been jailed after he hit his 73-year-old mum who is battling cancer.

The victim appeared so distressed, a member of the public who was driving past, saw her trembling and waited with her until police arrived.

Son Darren Jordan admitted assaulting her in Clacton when he appeared before magistrates in Colchester.

The court heard Jordan’s mother no longer allowed her son to live with her due to his substance abuse, mainly alcohol.

However, on Tuesday he let himself into her home to collect some bags.

Describing Jordan’s mother as a “vulnerable lady living on her own”, prosecutor Philip Pearson said: “His mother is suffering from cancer, she is not very well at all.

“She left her property by her back door, she didn’t want her son to know she was going outside. She then called police and her son came outside and asked what she was doing.”

Mr Pearson said the woman was on her driveway and kept hold of her mobile phone, but Jordan grabbed it and hurt her ear as he did so.

He left shortly afterwards.

Mr Pearson continued: “A member of the public was passing while driving and stopped. He had noticed a female on her phone and a male that he described as being aggressive. The female was trembling. The male had reached out with an open hand with his left hand, to the victim’s face.

“The victim was shocked by what they saw. He got out of the car and asked if she was okay and stayed until the police turned up.”

The woman was not left with any lasting injuries after the assault.

James O’Toole, mitigating, said: “Mr Jordan has asked me to apologise to his mother publicly for his actions. This is a man, 48, who has a long-standing history of substance abuse.

“Following his release from prison, he thought he was under control.”

But magistrates’ chairman Martin Stuchfield described what happened as “quite a horrific set of circumstances.”

“Only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified,” he told Jordan, who has no fixed address.

Jordan will serve 18 weeks in prison and will be on a year-long community supervision order when released.

A restraining order not to go to his mother’s address has also been put in place for five years.

A £115 victim surcharge must also be paid.