the CP warehouse has Galaxy Ace, sim free, for £120 ish....... I had one as my first smartphone and was quite happy with it when it was working.
I must have had a rogue faulty one, if they all failed in the way mine did you would have heard about it. I would risk another one. After returning it for warranty repair 3 times it was replaced with a HTC phone that my other half uses. I have a better Galaxy now.
Rans6..........