A WOMAN called police after she returned to her home at Great Dunmow to find her ex-partner in the premises, a court heard on Thursday. Officers attended the scene in riot gear because it was erroneously suspected that David Perry was in possession of a k

A WOMAN called police after she returned to her home at Great Dunmow to find her ex-partner in the premises, a court heard on Thursday.

Officers attended the scene in riot gear because it was erroneously suspected that David Perry was in possession of a knife.

Perry, 30, of Quintin Road, Plaistow, had been committed to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentence after admitting a charge of entering Tina Graves' home in breach of a restraining order. He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.

Recorder Rebecca Brown told Perry, who had previous convictions for causing actual bodily harm to Miss Graves and breaching the restraining order, that he had committed 'a clear and fragrant breach of a court order' and only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.

Diane Pigot, prosecuting, said the restraining order was imposed by North West Essex Magistrates in January this year for harassment and it prohibited Perry from contacting Tina Graves or entering Great Dunmow.

On August 31 Miss Graves returned to her home in St Edmunds Field, Dunmow, and when she looked through the front window she saw her ex-partner inside her house.

Police were called to the house and when officers spoke to Perry through a window he refused to open the door or leave the house. He was aggressive and abusive.

Police tried to negotiate with him for about an hour without success and eventually offices wearing riot gear forced their way into the house.

There was a struggle and Perry was restrained and arrested. He was searched and a pair of white ladies knickers and a mobile phone, belonging to Tina Graves, were found in his possession. Perry later told police the reason he did not open the door and refused to leave was because he knew he would be arrested and was frightened.

Stephen Rose, mitigating, said Perry went to the house to see Miss Graves because he wanted to apologise for what had occurred in the past.

There was also an ongoing dispute about a mobile phone, which he had bought for her and a bill which had been run up and he wanted to resolve that.

Perry apologised for his behaviour and was genuinely remorseful. He was sorry for the emotional stress he had caused the victim and maintained he had no intention to cause any harm.

Mr Rose said the arrival of the police with riot shields and armoured protection was based on erroneous information that Perry was in possession of a knife.