Colchester abuser jailed again for breaching restraining order

Darren Cranmer, 40, of Larch Close, Colchester, had been previously sentenced for three counts of actual bodily harm, damaging and destroying property and assault by beating.

He was also given a five-year restraining order to prevent him from contacting a victim upon his release.

Despite this, Cranmer called them just hours after his release on February 12.

Between then and his arrest on February 23, Cranmer contacted them every day, calling and messaging them more than 100 times.

When officers were arresting Cranmer, the mobile phone used to harass the victim was found in his possession.

Despite the evidence against him, he refused to answer any of the questions put to him when interviewed.

Cranmer admitted the charges at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court

He admitted the charge at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, February 24, and has been sentenced to six months in prison.

His restraining order remains in place until 2027.

Police Constable Robert Kedar, of Essex Police’s domestic abuse problem solving team, said: “Cranmer returned to his pattern of offending almost immediately – he has shown he is not willing to change and not capable of change.

“He is a perfect example of why we work so hard to monitor the behaviour of those released from prison following crimes such as domestic abuse, domestic violence, and stalking.

“We have several teams that work in tandem to deter perpetrator behaviour, apply court orders to prevent repeat offending and break the cycle of abuse, and catch those that continue to harass and subject others to their crimes.”