A VIOLENT Thurrock man who subjected his partner to domestic abuse and terrorised residents in sheltered housing has been jailed for five months.

David Watts, 60, was sentenced to five months in prison by Southend County Court, following repeated breaches of an anti-social behaviour Injunction that was put into place to prevent instances of domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour towards the borough's most vulnerable residents.

Cllr Victoria Holloway, cabinet member for Place and the Environment, said: "The granting of this injunction and the sentencing that followed it, highlights our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable residents in our community.

"The collaborative efforts of the Housing ASB Team, Housing Safeguarding Teams, Care Team, Local Policing Team and legal services have been instrumental in achieving this outcome.

"We will continue to take strong action against those disrupting the safety and peace of our residents."

On 13 March 2024, Thurrock Council's Housing Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and Housing Safeguarding Teams secured an Injunction at Southend County Court to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance. This injunction was designed to protect tenants of sheltered housing sites across Thurrock from domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour.

The order banned Watts from entering any sheltered housing accommodation in the borough for one year.

Watts, who failed to engage with officers throughout the process, was arrested on Wednesday, 17 July at a sheltered housing complex in Grays after repeatedly violating the injunction's terms.

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Due to the time served on remand and the legal requirement to serve only half of the sentence, the effective imprisonment term was reduced to two and a half months.