A scheme to stop jailed domestic abusers terrorising their victims from prison should be rolled out nationwide, a senior figure has said.

One woman, whose abusive ex enlisted other inmates to send her threatening letters, said she was left “terrified”.

North Yorkshire Police has launched information-sharing in seven prisons to ensure victims cannot be contacted.

Domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales Nicole Jacobs said such measures should be standard practice.

Chris Robinson came up with the idea after working in jails and regularly witnessing inmates contacting former partners.

Now employed by the North Yorkshire force as a domestic violence specialist, he said: “I knew this was happening a lot with abusers contacting their victims or getting other prisoners to contact them from behind bars – putting pressure on them to change their statements or threatening them.”

He contacted HMP Hull, where most domestic abuse offenders from North Yorkshire are housed, about the information-sharing system and it was launched last March.

When an abuser is jailed, North Yorkshire Police now makes sure the prison they are sent to has the offender’s details and the victim’s contact details, such as address and phone number.

A block is then put on the victim’s information which prevents them being contacted by anyone in the jail.