A man has admitted forcing his way into the homes of an elderly woman and a family.

Thomas McAvoy appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and pled guilty to one charge. McAvoy, of Glencairn Street in Saltcoats, behaved in a threatening or abusive manner on June 10 at two addresses in Stevenston.

The 43-year-old forced entry into an 84-year-old woman’s house by repeatedly kicking the door.

He also attended the home of a mum and her children, repeatedly shouted and swore, repeatedly banged on the window and demanded entry, hit doors and forced entry, challenged the woman to strike him with a baseball bat.

Sentence was deferred for reports until July 12.

McAvoy was remanded in custody.