A HELENSBURGH man who sent offensive messages to his former partner has been sentenced to unpaid work.

Darren Pinner, 30, previously admitted sending electronic messages on April 17 that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character and shouting, swearing and uttering threats.

Pinner, of West Princes Street, had been in a relationship with his partner for seven weeks which ended.

Fiscal depute Emma Thomson told Dumbarton Sheriff Court Pinner’s partner checked her voicemail to see a number of messages left from an unknown number. She recognised the voice and determined they were from the accused.

The first message said “phone me”. The second said “I’m coming to your house and we can talk face to face. I will just look till I find it. I will see you very shortly.”

The third said “I will make your life a living hell and I will make it my lives mission to f****** ruin yours now.”

The accused sounded aggressive and agitated. The partner attended the police office in Helensburgh and listened to the messages there.

Police attended the Commodore Hotel in West Clyde Street and spoke to the accused. He was detained and taken to Clydebank police office. He made a full admission and was arrested, cautioned and charged.

The partner said the relationship was over and she wanted no contact.

Pinner’s defence solicitor said: “I would ask you to note that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He has one previous conviction that has nothing to do with his partner. He doesn’t want contact with his previous partner either."

At a previous hearing the Crown had asked for a non-harassment order to protect the woman.

Sheriff Simon Pender sentenced Pinner to 100 hours of unpaid work in six months. A request for a non harassment order was refused as it was deemed “unnecessary at this time”.