A BELLSMYRE man sent a series of abusive texts to his then-partner in which he threatened to wreck their home unless she returned there to let him out.

Stephen Black called the woman a “tramp”, and threatened that he would “get my sister to kick your c*** in”, a court heard this week.

Black, 21, of Barwood Hill, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing on Thursday after pleading guilty at a previous hearing to behaving in a threatening or abusive fashion by text and in person at a house in North Street, Alexandria, on November 26.

The court heard the couple were no longer together and that there was little prospect of them doing so.

Fiscal depute Carol Cameron told the court Black’s then-partner had left the house – for which there was only one key – at 11am that day, locking the back door, while Black was still asleep.

Ms Cameron said: “Between 4pm and 5pm she got several text messages from the accused instructing her to return as he was getting ready to leave.

“He demanded she return immediately or he would rip the door from its hinges.

“In one text the accused said ‘you will find when you get here that your house will be wrecked and the door will be on the floor’.”

After he returned to the property, Ms Cameron said, Black continued to shout and swear at the woman.

“There was a barrage of abuse,” she said. “The complainer was extremely anxious and upset. The accused was interviewed by police and made admissions in relation to the charge.”

Solicitor Kenny Clark said the couple’s relationship had lasted for five and a half years.

Mr Clark added: “He and she are on speaking terms, but things are difficult now, and he does not think they will be getting back together.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told Black: “I’m going to defer sentence for a period for you to show you can be of good behaviour and that you can put this behind you. If you can do that, the court might be persuaded it can deal with you by way of a financial penalty.”

Black’s bail order was revoked and he was told to return to court on May 26.