A MAN who admitted assaulting two women has been handed a custodial sentence after he told a court he could not pay fines.

Christopher Storrie was jailed for 14 days after Sheriff Roderick Flinn was told he could not afford the fines imposed on him as punishment for the attacks.

Storrie first assaulted one woman by seizing her by the neck and butting her on the head during an incident at a property at Northfield in Prestonpans on May 23 last year.

Storrie, of Well Wynd, Tranent, then sent abusive messages to another woman and uttered threats of violence towards her at his former home at the town’s Civic Square on December 31 last year.

The 42-year-old also confronted the second woman while travelling on a bus between Fort Kinnaird and North High Street in Musselburgh on January 25.

On this occasion, Storrie acted in an aggressive manner, followed the woman and prevented her from moving way from him.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was back in the dock for sentencing on Friday.

Sheriff Flinn issued fines totalling £520 to mark the offences but then sentenced the father-of-one to spend 14 days in prison as an alternative after hearing he could not pay the fines.

The court also imposed a five-year non-harassment order banning Storrie from approaching or contacting the first woman, and three-year order stopping him from having any contact with the second.