A GREENOCK man has been fined hundreds of pounds after he admitted sending ‘unwarranted and disgusting’ messages to his former partner.

Shaun Knox, 31, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the woman near her home in the town on May 22.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard that Knox and the complainer had been in a relationship for six years before separating last year.

At around 11pm on May 22, Knox drove past the woman’s house as her new partner exited the property.

He then sent text messages to her demanding that she answer her phone.

Knox wrote: “Tell him to stay here. I want a name or I’m spilling everything about you.”

(Image: Newsquest)

Within the messages, Knox also used offensive terms to refer to the woman.

Police were contacted and attended Knox's home on Walker Street at around 1am, where they told him he was to be arrested.

Defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher said: “The parties had separated. His position is that they had thereafter reconciled but were not in a relationship.

“It was on that date that he learned of his former partner being in a relationship.

“This is a response to that. It’s wholly unwarranted and disgusting language – and he accepts that.”

Sheriff Thomas Ward handed Knox a £500 fine, reduced from £550 as a result of his guilty plea before a trial.

Knox was ordered not to approach or contact his former partner for a period of two years.

He had also been charged with resisting police efforts to apply handcuffs and struggling with officers at his home address on May 23, but his plea of not guilty to that charge was accepted by the Crown.