A THUG who kidnapped a woman, while already on bail for breaking her jaw, has been locked up for three-and-a-half years.

Arron Farmer, 28, of Cobham Road, Westcliff, first attacked the victim as she sat in her parked car in Southend last September, Basildon Crown Court heard.

Farmer opened the door, tried to undo her seatbelt and then fractured her jaw with a single punch.

He was later charged and bailed, but in January, the day before he was due to appear in court, Farmer went to her home in South Woodham Ferrers and kidnapped her.

Police and her family were alerted when a personal alarm, which was given to her following the first attack, was activated and no trace of her could be found.

Officers launched a frantic search for the victim who was forced to drive to Southend’s seafront.

Lesli Sternberg, prosecuting, told the court: “At about 7.45pm the victim contacted her father and gave details of having been kidnapped by the defendant.

“She said she was in her vehicle outside her home at the time when the defendant smashed the front window by punching it and got into the front seat and ordered her to drive to Southend.”

They eventually parked up at Southend seafront where Farmer got out of the car and ran away. She called her dad, who called police and Farmer was soon arrested.

In mitigation, Matthew Bagnall said Farmer was sorry.

He also said during the kidnap Farmer never once mentioned the court case and there was no suggestion he was trying to intimidate the woman into not giving evidence.

In relation to the first attack, Mr Bagnall said: “He is disgusted with himself that he dealt that blow to her face.”

And, addressing the issue of the kidnap, Mr Bagnall added: “He is sorry for that, which sounds hollow and inadequate, but that’s all I can really say.”

Farmer, who admitted a charge of kidnap and causing grievous bodily harm, was given an 18-month and two-year jail term respectively. Both terms will run consecutively.

Judge Saggerson ordered a further charge of sexual assault to lie on file. Farmer was also made the subject of a ten-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim.