A man has been banned from entering Essex and sent to prison after he was convicted of harassing two women in Braintree.

John Collins was served the restraining order, which will last until further notice, at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday

Collins, 53, of the Knoll, Hertford, was convicted of one count of harassment of one woman between November 1, 1998, and April 22, 2004, and another count of harassment of another woman between January 1, 2003 and March 19, 2004, following the trial at Witham Magistrates' Court earlier this year.

He also admitted three separate counts of assaulting a police officer on May 25 and 26 this year at an earlier hearing in July.

Chairman of the magistrates David Thwaites said the harassment was "serious" and "excessive and persistent".

Collins was given two six-month prison sentences for the harassment and a four-month prison sentence for the assaults, to run concurrently. He was also served a restraining order from entering the county until further notice and banned from contacting the two victims, plus another woman, except through solicitors.

Published Tuesday August 24, 2004

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