A REFUSE collector sent abusive and threatening text messages to his former partner following a falling out.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the woman was at her home in Innerwick when she received text messages from her ex Alan McLaughlin at about 8pm on June 1.

Fiscal depute Jennifer McLaren said that the couple had not been in touch for more than two weeks and first the messages were said to be “non-threatening”.

The fiscal said that the texts then escalated and McLaughlin sent one message that stated “I’m going to bury you and your family” and a second which read “I hope your grandwean dies”.

The court was told that the 36-year-old also called the woman “a lying cow” and accused her of using dating sites.

The woman recognised the number as that of her ex-partner and contacted the police to report the matter.

Lawyer Michael Elliot said that his client was a refuse collector with Glasgow City Council and had been in a relationship with the woman but, following an argument that day, she had thrown him out of the address.

Mr Eliot added that McLaughlin, of Eastbank Rise, Glasgow, accepted that he sent the abusive messages under the influence of alcohol and what was read out in court was “in response” to messages from the woman.

Sheriff John Cook deferred sentence to next month for social work reports to be prepared and said that consideration of a non-harassment order would be deferred to that date also.

McLaughlin pleaded guilty to sending electronic messages to his former partner that were grossly offensive and sending her abusive and threatening messages at her home at Innerwick on June 1.