A MAN who repeatedly defied the courts by breaching a restraining order against his partner has been jailed after trying to contact her for the tenth time.

Adam Nash, formerly of Chillingworth Crescent, Oxford, now of HMP Bullingdon near Bicester, was convicted of harassment and breaching the restraining order after a trial at Oxford Magistrates' court last month.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing on Tuesday how the 39-year old had time and again ignored the terms of the restraining order against his on and off again partner and had a string of previous offences including several for violence.

The latest breach took place while he was at HMP Bullingdon having been convicted for another breach of the order and for assaulting his partner.

It was just one week after that conviction on March 21 last year that he used a cell mate's call call details to ring his partner twice and to ask her for money.

In mitigation, defence barrister Mark Dixon said that the offence by itself was 'not very serious' and was two very short phone calls lasting 14 seconds.

He added that the woman and the subject of the restraining order was keen that Nash remain a part of their children's lives despite their problems.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said that flouting orders of the court were so serious they had to be met with a custodial sentence.

He said: "It is a breach of the order of the court and the court is determined to ensure that its orders are complied with and there are consequences to repeated breaches.

"Your advocate says you have learned your lesson, I am not sure, we will have to see."

Nash was jailed for two and a half years and must pay a victim surcharge.

The original restraining order which was first imposed in 2016 has also been varied and will last indefinitely and without limit of time.