A "aggressive" man who flouted a restraining order by chasing a woman through a car park and hitting her has been jailed.

Despite being banned indefinitely from contacting the victim, Christopher Boxall, from Ramsgate, approached her after seeing her in Westwood Cross, Broadstairs, on March 11 and became aggressive when she asked him to leave her alone.

The woman called out to members of the public, pleading with them to call the police as Boxall insisted that he should return home with her to talk.

Although the victim tried to escape Boxall by weaving between stationary vehicles in the car park, he caught up with her and hit her.

At that point "courageous" onlookers intervened, and stood in front of the woman to prevent him from causing further harm, causing Boxall to walk away.

He was arrested a short time later.

During his time in custody the 38-year-old also assaulted an officer by throwing a hot drink at him.

At court Boxall, of Newcastle Hill in Ramsgate, admitted breaching his restraining order, as well as assault by beating, and assaulting an emergency worker.

He was sentenced to 16 months in prison when he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on May 4.

Investigating officer PC Joe Tremble said: "Christopher Boxall knew he was not allowed to speak to his victim, there was a restraining order in place preventing him from doing just that – and yet he chose to speak to her regardless and became violent towards her.

"Fortunately for the victim, members of the public were courageous and stepped in to stop the situation escalating. They demonstrated that unlike Boxall, they knew the difference between right and wrong.

"Boxall has shown himself to be aggressive and lacking in common decency towards others and the law. I hope he uses his time in prison to realise just how serious it is to have a restraining order and the importance of adhering to it."

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