A FATHER who was jailed for savagely attacking his ex-wife and an usher in court has been spared further punishment by a judge.

Simon Abraham Ramet, 39, repeatedly punched and kicked ex-wife Christina Ramet and hit usher Chris Henley when he tried to restrain him at Southend County Court on October 10.

He was jailed for 20 months at Basildon Crown Court later that month after admitting inflicting actual bodily harm on his ex-wife, causing severe bruising, and assaulting Mr Henley, leaving bruises to his face and arm.

Ramet, who owns music therapy company Play Pause Rewind, was brought before Judge Sir James Munby at the Royal Courts of Justice for contempt of court on Tuesday.

However, the judge refused to give him a further prison sentence – arguing he had “suffered enough” and “might be forgiven for thinking the system had failed him” after his decade-long battle for custody over the couple’s child collapsed.

Anthony Jerman, representing Ramet, said he was utterly “ruined” as a result of the violent outburst, triggered by acute emotional distress at learning residence and contact orders had been made in his ex-wife’s favour.

Mr Jerman said: “This is an awful tragedy. This is not a technical case of contempt in the face of the court. It is a case where, simply, he lost it.

He lost control. Something went tragically wrong.”

Ramet, who appeared in court, broke down as his barrister said the mistake had cost him his livelihood and most likely his chances of future contact with the son he had fought tirelessly to see for ten years.

The judge told Ramet, of Main Road, Hockley: “You have, in my judgment, been punished enough and, therefore, beyond finding contempt on the two matters which bring you here today, I’m not going to make any order.

“You will have to continue to serve the sentence imposed on you in the Crown Court, but my view is you have suffered, and continue to suffer, enough.”

However, the ruling was not welcomed by Ms Ramet, who called it “appalling”.

She said: “The fact the judge was almost playing him as the victim is despicable.

“It’s as though he’s suggesting he was the victim and that he’d been let down by the system when it was myself and my son who were let down over and over again by the police and social services.”