A WOMAN abuser who hit his ex-partner over the head with a fan in Basildon, and repeatedly breached a restraining order, has been locked up behind bars.

Timothy Joyce, 38, of Webb Estate in Clapton Common, London, had previously breached the order eight times resulting in an 18-month sentence in 2022.

Joyce was released on April 5 - and 10 weeks later, on June 25, he turned up unannounced at the victim’s address in Basildon.

He hit the victim over the head with a fan, causing a cut and bruising, before smashing a vase over his own head.

Joyce was charged with harassment breaching a restraining order, assault by beating, and criminal damage of property valued under £5,000.

Yesterday at Basildon Crown Court, Recorder Oliver Campbell said: “A restraining order was first made in December 2015 preventing you from having any contact with the victim.

“This order was remade or varied in August 2019, restraining you again from having any contact direct or indirect with the victim.

“Despite the clarity of those orders you have persistently breached them.”

The court heard that Joyce has a young child with the victim.

However, Recorder Campbell added that much of the contact has been “anything but consensual”.

A victim impact statement said she suffered anxiety and distress from the incident.

Tommy Dominguez, mitigating, said: “Mr Joyce has not had a chance to be put in stable accommodations. He suffers from PTSD, anxiety and depression, he has been taking medication in custody which has helped.”

Joyce was jailed for 20 months for the breach of order, assault and criminal damage charges.