A BITTER fall-out with former business partners led to a man sending threatening messages via social media.

Craig McKay threatened to “destroy” two ex-colleagues following a row about their Dunfermline barber’s shop, calling them “scumbags”, “rats” and “mother*******”.

McKay, 35, of Paxton Crescent, Lochgelly, was bringing civil proceedings at Dunfermline Sheriff Court but ended up in the dock there because of his actions.

He admitted that between December 18-24, at Bruce Street, Dunfermline, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused his former business partners fear or alarm by repeatedly sending them abusive, threatening and sexually-offensive social media messages.

The court was told McKay had been involved in a barber business with a friend and the friend’s wife. However, they fell out and there is now an ongoing civil action about the franchise.

McKay had sent messages saying he was going to report his two ex-colleagues “to the police, the fiscal and the council”.

The messages included: “I’m going to destroy you both” and “2019 is not going to go well for you”.

McKay also called them “a pair of rats”, “utter, utter scumbags” and told them “see you in court mother*******”.

Sheriff James MacDonald deferred sentence on McKay until August 21 for him to be of good behaviour.