A WOMAN tormented by her rapist ex-husband from his prison cell is calling for a change in the law which allowed him to contact her through the family court.

Nicola Richardson, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she was left feeling angry and frustrated as former Cleveland Police officer Wayne Scott delayed their divorce for four years in a bid to retain his control over her.

He was jailed for 19 years in 2013 for a catalogue of rapes on two women – one of whom was his wife – as well as a number of sexual assaults carried out both on and off duty was branded "manipulative, controlling and domineering" by Judge James Goss.

Scott continued using those traits to interfere in Ms Richardson's life – forcing her to read the self-pitying letters he sent to the judge handling their divorce.

In one, he wrote he had learnt his lesson as both a "man and a husband" and accepted he had made mistakes and was attending courses to address his behaviour.

However, the most chilling part for Ms Richardson is when he told the judge in the family court that he will "fight for my children and I will fight for Nicola and for our marriage" – pleading with the judge to refuse the divorce to "give me the time I need to save a family and a marriage".

Now the divorce has gone through, Ms Richardson is still fighting her ex-husband's coercive behaviour over the financial settlement.

"I really can't understand how he is still able to contact me through the family court," she said. "It shows the kind of man he truly is when he is continuing to try and control my life when he is in jail for his horrendous crimes.

"I know that the solicitor is legally bound to pass on all correspondence to me as the client but he should not have the right to be able to write to me through the judicial system – he should lose all of his rights while he is in prison.

"I know exactly what he means when he writes that he wants our marriage to continue – he is telling me that once he gets out of jail, he will want to be in contact with me. I don't want him anywhere near me and here he is opening telling the judge that he will fight for me.

"Now that the divorce is final, I do feel some relief but I know, deep down, that he will never leave me alone."

No one at the Ministry of Justice was able to comment.

Richinda Taylor, chief executive of charity Eva Women’s Aid, said: "This kind of scenario is not uncommon. Not only has the victim been through a devastating experience, but she is forced to read a range of documents that will remind her of the abuse she has experienced.

"In addition, some perpetrators may use the opportunity to portray themselves in a positive light when the victim has seen a very different side to his behaviour. Nicola is very brave to waive anonymity, and I applaud her for that.

"By standing up and being recognised, she is demonstrating that she is back in control of her life, and that can only be a good thing. Her bravery may encourage others to come forward to seek support. I hope Nicola is receiving support through this process, and would urge her to do so if she is not."

In 2015, a 208-page investigation report highlighted that a number of Scott's victims made complaints to Cleveland Police about his inappropriate sexual activities but little was done to temper him until he was charged with a series of rapes.

Within months of starting work as a police officer Scott’s sexual behaviour had been reported to senior staff but with only a recommendation for monitoring, he was allowed to continue unabated as colleagues described his inappropriate sexual behaviour as ‘Wayne being Wayne’.

One of the more disturbing incidents happened during his time working in Hartlepool when he received a series of love letters from some ten-year-old girls, even going so far as taking one of them for an ice cream at Seaton Carew.