A THUG attacked a vulnerable woman with a barbecue grill and made her “a prisoner in her own home”.

Zak Baker has been handed a community order after attacking and abusing a woman in Buckingham Road, Basildon.

Horrified witnesses watched Baker assault the woman as he kicked her to the ground and attacked her with a wire grill from a barbecue.

The shocking attack resulted in her needing surgery.

Baker, 28, admitted causing actual bodily harm between May and October this year and appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday.

A friend of Baker’s victim, who spoke to the Echo with her permission, said the incident was filmed to make sure Baker was prosecuted for the attack.

She said: “The situation has been going on for months.

“They never knew each other before the abuse started, but there was not one time when she was out and came across him that there wasn’t some kind of incident.

“Myself and her friends have had to escort her for her to walk her dog safely.

“Her mental health has been affected, I do not believe that she would be here today without our support.

“She has been a prisoner in her own home because of this monster.”

Baker received a three year community order and 250 hours of unpaid work, and must undertake 90 days of rehabilitation.

There was no restraining order put in place.

This means he can return to his home in Buckingham Road and still be in close proximity to his victim.

The friend added: “It’s been really hard for her; she’s had to go through so many difficult situations, and this order means he will be able to go home and be close to her again.

“This means she’ll be at risk again if he decides to try anything.

“For us, this does mean he will be able to serve his sentence by making the community better, we were hoping for a custodial sentence but it wasn’t to be.

“We really hope it can act as a deterrent and we want to make an example that this cannot stand.

“We’re happy that this has given him a kick up the backside and hopefully he won’t do it again, but he doesn’t seem to have taken any regard to any advice from people around him.”

If Baker goes on reoffend again he could be sent to prison.