A DUNTOCHER man who contacted an ex-lover hours before a court appearance for bombarding her with messages has been given more time to ensure he behaves.

Martin Argyelan, of New Street, was ordered to stay away from his former girlfriend for 12 months in December and pay a £150 fine as punishment for offences in November.

But the night before the 24-year-old’s court appearance, he contacted the woman again, something his solicitor branded “sheer madness”.

Argyelan’s original course of conduct was on November 13-14, when he put his former partner in a state of fear and alarm, including visiting his ex’s mother’s houseboat in Bowling Harbour, sending 25 texts to his ex, and shouting and screaming outside his ex’s workplace.

On December 14 and 15 at the harbour again, he put his ex in a state of fear and alarm and repeatedly sent text messages, made phone calls and left voice messages to her.

The court heard those messages, which said “don’t tell them I sent you this”, “I love you”, “I didn’t mean to waste three years of your life” and “I wanted to contact you before tomorrow in case the worst happens”.

There were a further nine calls and four voicemails just over an hour before court proceedings began on December 15.

Argyelan was sentenced for the second course of conduct in January and sentence deferred until last week to show he could comply with the non-harassment order.

Sheriff William Gallacher deferred sentence for a further three months to make sure he doesn’t contact his ex.

The court had heard how Argyelan had been in an “on-off” relationship with the woman for two-and-a-half years prior to the houseboat incident.

Scott Simpson, prosecuting, told the court in December: “The complainer was in her mother’s houseboat on November 13 when her mother observed the accused outside the kitchen window.

“Both ladies were concerned about the attendance of the accused and contacted the accused’s father – who, just to confuse matters, appears to be the partner of the complainer’s mother.

“The father of the accused contacted his son by phone and told him to stay away from the boat. He then attended at the boat for the purpose of ensuring the removal of the accused.

“This occurred at about two o’clock in the afternoon. At about six o’clock, the accused sent a series of about 25 text messages to the complainer which she said left her ‘feeling trapped’.

“The following day the complainer contacted her workplace to say she would not be coming into work and was told by her manager that the accused had attended at the workplace, and on being told the complainer wasn’t present he had left and screamed outside.”

Police, Mr Simpson said, became involved two days later when officers detained and interviewed Argyelan.

“He admitted going to the houseboat,” Mr Simpson continued, “and was asked whether he had attempted to text her. He said ‘yes, of course’.”

Mr Simpson said he was unable to disclose the content of the texts, but said some of them were “insulting, but not threatening, towards her”.