A MAN has been jailed for 12 months after causing more than £10,000 of damage to a housing association property.

Police were called to a disturbance at Kevin Law’s rented home in Trotters Field, Braintree, on January 1.

They found he had caused damage costing a five-figure sum to repair.

Law, 39, was charged with criminal damage, which he pleaded guilty to when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, June 22.

He was jailed for 12 months, ordered to pay £140 victim surcharge and given a criminal behaviour order.

The order prevents Law from entering an exclusion area of Braintree, attending the offices of Braintree Council or Greenfields Community Housing unless by prior arrangement, and harassing members of the public and employees of the council and housing services.

Sgt Tom Bastendorff, of the Braintree community policing team, said: “Causing criminal damage to social housing puts hard-pressed public services under further strain and I'm delighted that we've obtained these orders which are aimed at making sure this behaviour doesn't happen.

“The criminal behaviour order (CBO) is designed to protect the general public and housing staff against such criminality and gives us the power to deal with any issues quickly.

“The team have put a lot of effort into securing the CBO at court to provide a longer term solution should Law’s behaviour continue upon his release.”