A “CONTROLLING” boyfriend was caught rekindling his relationship with his partner just months after a court banned him from seeing her.

Paul Johnson was handed a ten-year restraining order, banning him from contacting or seeing his victim, after pleading guilty to assaulting her.

The 28-year-old then defied the order and rekindled the relationship, despite also having a suspended sentence hanging over him.

But he was rumbled when the victim’s daughter, who is not related to Johnson, revealed the relationship to her teacher.

Police found CCTV showing the pair together near his home in Dumbleton Towers, Thornhill, Southampton, and a record of a phone call made by Johnson – which was intercepted by the victim’s mother.

Johnson was jailed for 20 months by Judge Gary Burrell at Southampton Crown Court after he admitted breaching the order.

The judge branded him a “danger” to his victim.

Prosecutor Unyime Davies said Johnson had pleaded guilty to assault in September last year.

The court heard how he had “kicked, punched and called his victim horrible names”.

Johnson also pleaded guilty to using controlling and coercive behaviour.

He was given an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years, and a 10 year restraining order after pleading guilty on the day of his trial.

The pair soon restarted their relationship but the victim’s daughter raised the alarm at school.

Johnson’s actions were quickly revealed however, when the victim’s daughter revealed the relationship to her teachers.

Ms Davies said: “She became upset and started uncontrollably crying. She said the defendant and her mother were together again and she said the defendant had started living at the address. She said that Paul scared her.”

Police were later informed and investigated.

They found CCTV from Johnson’s Thornhill home, showing the couple together.

Officers also found a record of a phone call made by Johnson to his victim.

The call was intercepted by the victim’s mother, who told Johnson to leave her daughter alone.

He was arrested and gave police a no comment interview.Defending Johnson, Richard Martin said the victim wanted to restart the relationship and was attempting to get the restraining order lifted.

Mr Martin added: “He has not been helped by the complainants wish for this relationship to resume.

“In her own words she says she is setting him up to fail.”

In sentencing, Judge Burrell said Johnson’s had shown “very little regard” for court orders by his actions.

He added: “Whether the victim realises it or not there is considerable danger in my judgement to the victim and there has been of course an considerable impact on her daughter.”