A YOUNG father has been put on a community payback order for pestering his ex partner with unwanted phone calls then turning up at her Irvine home uninvited following a night out.

Jack McClure accepted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour towards his ex at a property in Dalrymple Avenue and elsewhere after an argument last month.

The 24-year-old was sentenced at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Thursday as Sheriff Colin Bissett told him he was "skating on very thin ice" after his second domestic conviction in the space of 12 months.

The court heard that McClure was fined for a previous offence involving his former partner in May, although no further details were provided.

Last week's hearing was told that McClure and his ex had been in a relationship for a year and have a child together, however, they separated this summer.

The procurator fiscal depute said: "At 3am on September 24 the complainer was alone and began to receive phone calls via Snapchat.

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"When she answered he would hang up.

"Due to being fearful she contacted a friend to come to her property.

"She received more calls, so her friend contacted police. While waiting for police she received a picture of her home address and when her friend made his way to the front door he saw the accused making off from the property.

"Police attended and the accused phoned the complainer again but hung up when it was answered by a police officer.

"He [McClure] was traced and arrested around one hour later."

When McClure was cautioned and charged by police, he told officers: "Sorry, I just wanted to talk to her but her pal was stopping me."

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Defence solicitor Ashley Kane said the couple never spoke to each other following the offence in May, however, the complainer invited herself to a night out where McClure was which led to the latest incident.

Ms Kane said: "When the nightclub ended she was exceptionally intoxicated and he was walking her home when an argument out of nothing took place.

"She stormed off and he was worried about her, so he phoned her on a number of occasions."

Ms Kane said her client admitted he had phoned his ex "around 20 times".

"He accepts that is bordering on harassing," the solicitor added, "he accepts he overstepped the mark.

"His behaviour should not have escalated to then turning up at the house."

Sheriff Colin Bissett told McClure, of Hawkhill Drive in Stevenston: "You are skating on very thin ice. This is your second conviction in 12 months aggravated by involving your ex."

McClure was sentenced to a community payback order requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within 12 months as an alternative to a further fine.