The wife of a man jailed for six months for calling her from prison said she felt sick every time she heard his voice.

David Evans was caged for four years in 2017 for ABH and making threats to kill after slashing his wife of 20 years at the family home in Surrey. He was given a restraining order banning him from contacting his wife and children.

But the 48-year-old repeatedly breached the order by writing and calling his family, a course of action described by Swindon judge Jason Taylor QC as showing a litany of disrespect to his wife and the courts.

He was convicted of an eighth breach of the restraining order after a short trial at the Swindon court on Monday. Evans was not present for the trial, having refused to get on the prison van.

The court heard the South African man’s wife had received a call from a number she did not recognise on May 14 last year. She answered the call and heard her ex’s distinctive deep, accented voice. Police analysis showed the call had been made from an unregistered Vodafone mobile from the vicinity of Erlestoke, where Evans was incarcerated.

The defendant denied making the call but did not question the fact that a call was made, in effect implying it was another mystery South African who had called his wife from rural Wiltshire.

At a sentencing hearing on Thursday, prosecutor Ben Worthington read a victim statement from Evans’ 47-year-old wife.

She wrote: “Every time I hear his voice I feel sick to my stomach.”

Raymond Tan, defending, agreed it had been regrettable his client had not attended court for the trial. Evans had been concerned about being moved to another prison – missing a parole board hearing – if he were convicted.

Evans, whose address was listeds as HMP Erlestoke, between Market Lavington and Westbury, appeared before the court via videolink. He was calm during the hearing, interrupting the judge to correct him about an allegation of assault on his wife – earning himself a warning that it was “probably better for you if you just remain silent”.

Jailing the prisoner for six months, Judge Taylor said he had caused his wife to live her life in fear. “Your failure to attend trial on two separate occasions is an indicator of your selfish attitude,” he added.

Evans must serve at least half his sentence behind bars. It will be served alongside his four-year term for ABH and making threats to kill.