A man has been jailed for three years after he harassed his ex-wife and threatened to kill her new partner and a policeman.

Armed police had to be brought in to protect the woman from her ex-husband.

And a policeman and his family also had to be moved to a safe house when he was threatened by the man.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told magistrates had put a restraining order on Andrew James. But just hours later, the threats started.

The order told him to keep away from his ex-wife Joanna and his daughter.

But the court heard yesterday James conned her by claiming the order allowed phone contact.

When she found out phone contact was banned under the order she still allowed the calls to continue.

But when the daughter changed her mind about the calls, the court heard how James's actions became more sinister.

He threatened to kill his former wife, her new partner and his son.

In a series of phone calls he also said he had bought a shotgun and was going to throw acid in the woman's face.

The calls led to his arrest but the court heard how the policeman involved then became a target for James.

Within days, he was back on the phone threatening to break the legs of Mrs James's new partner Glen Woodham and in another call, he said he was going to kill the man and his son.

Threats to kill Rowhedge PC Nigel Donkin, who had arrested James, were also made.

"Police took these threats extremely seriously and as a result, Mrs James, her daughter and Mr Woodham were moved from their separate homes to a hotel in Colchester and then to a hotel in Copford where they stayed for a number of nights," Christopher Kerr, prosecuting, told the court.

"In one call, James said he had bought a Remington shotgun and said he was going to kill Mr Woodham, his son and PC Donkin within the next 48 hours," said Mr Kerr.

And he added: "The officer, his wife and children went to stay with a neighbour and later the family were moved to a rented house specially provided by the police."

He also said armed police were brought in to patrol the area where Mrs James, Mr Woodham and their children were living.

James, formerly of North London but now living in Lyon, France, admitted three charges of harassment, three of breaching a restraining order and one of threatening violence when he appeared in court for sentence.

Judge Brian Watling QC jailed him for a total of three years.

"This case must represent one of the most severe and extreme cases of its kind," Judge Watling said.

Joshua Nirie, mitigating, told the court James was upset over the break-up of his marrage and difficulties in seeing his daughter. high-profile police hunt

A high-profile police hunt was launched for Andrew James in June last year.

Detectives issued a plea through the media, for the man they believed to be armed and dangerous to give himself up.

They took the unusual step of releasing his photo with the warning.

Staff and pupils at his daughter's school were also told to be on the lookout for him.

He had terrorised his former wife and their daughter who lived in Rowhedge and threatened village bobby PC Nigel Donkin.

At the time Det Chief Insp Roy Fenning, of Colchester police, said: "We have very grave concerns."

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