A DOMESTIC abuse offender who was given a three-year non-harassment order after targeting his ex-partner's home has breached the directive less than a month after it was imposed.

Jamie McLaughlin returned to the property in a bid to rekindle the relationship but ended up shouting and refusing to leave when the woman told him it was over, the sheriff court heard.

McLaughlin, 38, was ordered last month to stay away from her after he went to her home just 15 minutes after police released him from custody with an instruction not to go near her.

He booted her front door and repeatedly shouted and swore whilst still in possession of his police undertaking release papers.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher told the court that the latest offence was committed after the woman had invited him to her Wellington Street flat.

Mr Gallagher said: "He and the complainer were considering re-establishing the relationship and she then had a change of heart."

Police responded to an anonymous call and found McLaughlin — who has a previous conviction for a domestically aggravated offence — hiding in a cupboard, the court was told.

Solicitor Mr Gallagher said: "It is acknowledged that if parties wished to properly reconcile there is a [legal] process to be gone through."

Sheriff James Varney, who imposed the non-harassment order before Christmas, told McLaughlin: "You knew fine well that you ought not to be there and that you were banned from going near her."

The sheriff deferred sentence on McLaughlin, of Clydeview Road, until February 8.

He has asked for a background report and electronic tagging order to be prepared and placed him on supervised bail.