AN ABUSER was slammed by a judge for “seeing women as a violent plaything” after threatening his former partner in Pitsea.

Christopher Roberts, 49, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court for a violent incident where he left his former partner with bruising and scratches.

On April 20 last year, Roberts was in the passenger seat as his ex-partner was driving in High Road, Pitsea, when he became “snappy” and was in a “bad mood”.

Roberts told the victim if he would “strangle” her and “punch her in the mouth” if she “kept talking to him”.

The victim replied “go on then” and Roberts grabbed her with both hands and put his hand over her mouth.

The ensuing tussle left the victim with scratch marks and bruising as Roberts also threatened to “torch” her car before fleeing.

Roberts pleaded guilty to charges of battery and threatening to damage or destroy property.

Timothy Sleigh-Johnson, prosecuting, said: “The victim did not return home for a while as she was worried about Mr Roberts threat of setting fire to her car.

“In his basis of plea he accepted the battery and accepted applying unlawful force by placing his hand over the victim’s mouth for a matter of seconds.

“However he did not accept placing his hand on her throat or punching her in the face.”

A victim impact statement was read out to the court and stated she has since suffered with anxiety and depression, sleepless nights, and is less trustful of men.

Huda Musa, mitigating: “Mr Roberts is under no illusion as to the seriousness of this matter.

However it was an offence committed on impulse and there was no planning in respect of this.

“He is supported here by his new partner and since this offence he has taken active steps to stay out of trouble.”

Judge Andrew Hurst criticised Roberts as he sentenced him yesterday.

He said: “It seems to me that somewhere deep within you there is a capacity to see women as some sort of violent plaything and threaten them in an unpleasant way just because you are upset about something.”

Roberts of Dundee Court, Craylands, Basildon was sentenced to eight months suspended for 16 months with 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 140 hours of unpaid work.