A GLASGOW refuse collector who sent abusive and threatening text messages to an East Lothian woman, including wishing death on her grandchild, has been banned from having any contact with her for three years.

Alan McLaughlin was in a relationship with the woman before the pair fell out and split up earlier this year.

McLaughlin then began sending the woman abusive text messages while she was at her home in Innerwick at about 8pm on June 1.

Prosecutor Jennifer McLaren told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that the couple had not been in touch for about two weeks and at first the messages sent by McLaughlin were said to be “non-threatening”.

The fiscal depute 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 that read “I hope your grandwean dies”.

The court was told that the 36-year-old also called his former partner “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.

McLaughlin appeared at the Capital court last month, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of sending electronic messages to his former partner that were grossly offensive and sending her abusive and threatening messages on June 1.

READ MORE: Refuse collector sent his ex test that he would 'bury you and your family'

He returned to the dock for sentencing last Wednesday, where Sheriff John Cook deferred sentence to May next year for him to be of good behaviour.

Sheriff Cook also imposed a non-harassment order banning the offender, of Eastbank Rise, Glasgow, from having any contact with his former partner for three years.

Previously, solicitor Michael Elliot, representing McLaughlin, told the court that his client worked with Glasgow City Council and had been in a relationship with the woman but, following an argument, she had thrown him out of her home.

Mr Eliot added that McLaughlin accepted he sent the abusive messages but was under the influence of alcohol at the time and claimed they were “in response” to messages from his ex-partner.