A Maldon Independent councillor has been found guilty of breaching a non-molestation order "made to protect" a woman.

It took the jury less than four hours of deliberation to reach the unanimous decision on Councillor Chrisy Morris at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Thursday, 27 January).

Councillor Morris, who represents Heybridge West, was convicted of breaching a non-molestation order against a woman by visiting her address in Witham on 22 July 2019.

But he was cleared of breaching a further restraining order against the same woman, after the prosecution claimed he had visited the same address on 5 January 2020 and allegedly smashed her and her partner's windscreens.

47-year-old Councillor Morris, who represented himself during the trial, denied both counts.

He told the court after the finding that he wishes to appeal the conviction.

He admitted to being present in the road during the first incident in 2019, but said he was trying to find a terminally-ill friend's house, adding he did not know the woman had moved there the day before.

But Sarah Taylor, prosecuting, previously told the court the woman had seen Councillor Morris driving along the road "as though he was looking out for something or someone".

She said Councillor Morris returned ten minutes later and got out of his vehicle, "looking everywhere from the house to the neighbours, as if to try and find someone".

After being arrested on 23 July 2019, Councillor Morris denied knowing about the non-molestation order.

He told the court "it was not made clear to me", adding: "All I can say is there was a massive confusion."

The prosecution said Councillor Morris was aware of the order and had previously asked a Maldon police officer about one of its conditions.

The prosecution case claimed that, despite a restraining order later being imposed on Councillor Morris to prevent him from contacting the woman, he went to her address at around 10pm on 5 January 2020.

Ms Taylor said the woman and her partner were alerted to "seven loud bangs and breaking glass" and alleged that Councillor Morris had smashed their car windscreens.

The woman's partner identified a man walking away from the address as Councillor Morris, who denied being present at all during the incident, saying he was with friends "having a drink" at the Mill House Hotel in Langford.

Heybridge parish council chairman Richard Perry, who runs the Mill House, told the court yesterday (Wednesday, 26 January) he was with Councillor Morris at the time of the incident while Christmas decorations were being taken down at the hotel.

When asked about CCTV at the hotel by Ms Taylor, Independent Councillor Perry said it "wouldn't do well for anyone because there are black spots".

He said he later refused to give a statement to a police officer, who he claimed phoned up "like a man possessed", because "his attitude stank".

He added: "I didn't really want to talk to him, to be honest with you.

But Ms Taylor said: "He recalls that you refused to speak to him. What you did say to him was that your CCTV was broken - the only detail you provided."

She alleged he had been asked by Councillor Morris to "help provide an alibi", which Councillor Perry called "absolutely ridiculous".

Ms Taylor also asked Councillor Perry if he had refused to speak to the police because he was "worried about lying" in his statement, which he denied.

Ms Taylor told Councillor Morris that he had known the woman's partner for 20 years, saying they "know eachother well and he recognised you - he's 100 per cent certain he recognised you".

In her closing speech, she told the jury: "You can't believe the evidence you have heard."

She said the orders had been "made to protect" the woman from the conduct of Councillor Morris.

She said "he chose to ignore them", adding: "He remembers when it suits him."

But in his closing speech, Councillor Morris said: "It's pretty simple - I was having a drink with Richard."

He said at the time of the first incident "I was there and I completely put my hands up", but he "did not know" it was the woman's new address.

"I honestly did not believe that they were going to be moving into that area until the end of the week," he added.

Councillor Morris has been convicted of breaching the non-molestation order on 22 July 2019, but was cleared of breaching the restraining order on 5 January 2020.

He was silent as the verdict was read out in court today.

After being asked by Judge Timothy Walker how he felt about the verdict, Councillor Morris said: "I'm fine."

He will remain on bail and is set to be sentenced on 28 February.