A GRANDFATHER who sent abusive text messages to his former partner said his behaviour was totally "out of character".

Ian Stobo and the ex-partner had broken up about a month before the incident.

Stobo, 41, of Canmore Street, Dunfermline, previously admitted that, on March 27, at an address in Limekilns, he sent text messages to his ex-partner that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, in that he did utter abusive or homophobic remarks.

Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi, at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, said her client had one previous conviction from 10 years ago.

"It is fair to say that he is extremely embarrassed to find himself before the court for this matter," she said.

"He is indeed embarrassed and remorseful for his actions.

"He wholly accepts that they were unpleasant and would have caused fear.

"The offences were committed under the influence of alcohol.

"He described it as being totally out of character."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: "I am going to defer sentence to see if this was a one-off.

"This seems to me an instance of you trying to control an ex-partner."

A review in six months' time was set.