REACTING badly to being dumped by text message ended in a court appearance for chef Martin McBride last week.

After receiving the text, a face-to-face meeting with his former partner resulted in the aggressive behaviour from McBride, 22.

He appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last Wednesday and admitted that at Rose Crescent, Dunfermline, on May 16, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting and swearing at his ex-partner and punching and throwing household items around, causing damage.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the relationship was brought to an end by the complainer through a text message. She told the police she was fearful of the accused and would have ended the relationship sooner had she had the courage.

They met up on May 13 and McBride, now of Main Street, Kinglassie, made attempts to rekindle the relationship. 

He arrived at the property they had shared to collect his belongings and made another attempt to restart the relationship.

When his former partner refused, he became agitated and his behaviour escalated, the court was told.

Solicitor Ian Beatson said the relationship had been ongoing for about two years prior to them moving in together in October last year. 

"There had been difficulties because he starts work early in the morning and she doesn't finish work until late in the evening so there had been little contact with each other," he said. 

"He did not seem to appreciate it was as bad as she was perceiving it and it came as a bit of a shock when he was advised by text message rather than in person that the relationship was over and he did not feel he had got an explanation for that.

"He now accepts the relationship is over and he will not contact her again."

Sheriff Alison McKay said McBride's behaviour was "entirely unjustified, unwanted and inappropriate". 

She told him: "I understand you believe you deserve an explanation regarding the end of your relationship. You may feel you want an explanation but she is not obliged to give you one and that is the end of the matter."

She deferred sentence for six months for McBride to be of good behaviour.