AN ex-husband wished cancer on his former wife in a barrage of “vulgar” and abusive emails following their split.

John Gamblin sent the emails to the woman despite a restraining order banning him from contacting her.

The 49-year-old of Elm Green, Pitsea, had been married to his wife for 16 years but the relationship ended in 2020.

In November last year he was convicted of breaching non-molestation orders and assaulting his wife and given a restraining order.

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However, he sent emails to his old addresses which he knew she had access to.

Gamblin wrote that he hoped the woman would get cancer as well as using various swear words and other insults directed to her and her children.

He later wrote that the woman and others would “pay the most ultimate price in the most horrible way”.

The emails were sent between November last year and February this year.

At Basildon Crown Court, Peter Clark, prosecuting, said Gamblin knew the woman would see the emails and that they were “highly abusive and insulting messages”.

Mitigating, Eleanor Lucas said Gamblin had grown up in an abusive environment and found the breakdown in his relationship hard to handle.

She said: “He is in desperate need for rehabilitative work. He wished the complainant no harm, but he does display a lack of empathy and lack of understanding as to how the actions affect others.

“He had built a safe and secure home that he did not have in his childhood.

“When that broke down, he couldn’t accept it.”

She added: “This period in custody has been a serious wake up call for him. It’s his first time in custody.

“He contracted Covid-19 in November last year.

“He must accept the end of the relationship with the complainant.

“He doesn’t need to continue fighting for something that has ended.”

Judge Ian Graham said: “You send her abusive messages. They were full of abuse, offensive and very vulgar words, and that you hated her and hope she would get cancer.”

Gamblin was given eight months in prison, suspended for two years, 40 days rehabilitation and the restraining order was extended to January 2023.

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