A MAN who stalked his ex-partner in Dunfermline, tried to force his way into her home and then assaulted her friend, has narrowly avoided a jail term.

Anthony Bowyer bombarded the victim with messages trying to find out what she was doing.

He then went to her home at 6.30am and when he was stopped from going inside, he put the woman’s female friend in a headlock.

Bowyer, 25, previously of St Kilda Crescent, Kirkcaldy, now of Letham Avenue, Leven, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on August 10, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused his ex-partner fear or alarm by contacting her repeatedly to ask who she was with and what she was doing, threatened that he would attend her home, then did attend at her home, tried to force his way into the property, placed his foot in the doorway, refused to leave, then shouted, swore and attempted to gain entry through a window.

He also admitted that on August 11 at an address in Dunfermline, he assaulted his ex-partner's pal by pushing her, seizing her in a headlock and forcing her to the ground.

Unemployed Bowyer also admitted he then breached bail conditions imposed at court on August 12. On August 23 and 24, he contacted his ex-partner repeatedly via social media when ordered not to by the court.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the couple had been in a “volatile” relationship for four years and there had been police involvement because of previous incidents.

His ex-partner had been having a night out with a friend in Dunfermline and Bowyer sent her messages repeatedly asking where she was and who she was with.

He later sent her messages saying he would go to her home and at 6.30am he turned up there.

His ex was at home with her female friend and Bowyer was ringing the doorbell repeatedly.

The peephole had been covered when she tried to look out. When she opened the door, Bowyer tried to get in, putting his foot in the door.

When her friend tried to assist her, she was grabbed by Bowyer who put her in a headlock.

Both women managed to stop him getting in but then Bowyer tried to enter through a bedroom window.

Police were called and they found that the woman had received 84 missed calls on her phone since the night before.

After being told by the court not to contact his ex-partner, Bowyer started sending her messages complaining that he could be sent to jail.

When she failed to respond, Bowyer’s messages about loving her changed to calling her “a slag” and saying she had ruined his life.

Sheriff Alastair Brown told Bowyer: “I think I should send you to prison for this.”

However, as an alternative, he imposed an eight-month restriction of liberty order.