A violent man who subjected his partner to domestic abuse and terrorised residents in sheltered housing has been jailed for 5 months.
David Watts, 60, from Thurrock was sentenced to 5 months in prison on Friday 26 July 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 Anti-Social Behaviour Team, Housing Safeguarding Team, 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 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 Mr Watts from entering any sheltered housing accommodation in the borough for 1 year.
Mr 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.
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 2 and a half months.
Thurrock Council has a zero-tolerance stance on anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse and will continue to enforce legal measures to protect community members and vulnerable residents.
The council continues to support the victims of the abuse, as well as the external organisations involved.