A MAN who threatened to “shoot” his ex-lover in the face has been banned from approaching him for three years.

Darren McCafferty was arrested in Knightswood Road earlier this year with a kitchen knife. He pleaded guilty on Friday at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to threatening behaviour and having the offensive weapon.

McCafferty, 26, admitted repeatedly telephoning his partner between January 5 and 9 at a house in Talbot Road, Balloch, and a car park at the Loch Inn, Balloch.

He admitted engaging in a course of conduct which caused both the man and a woman fear and alarm. He repeatedly attended at their house in Talbot Road and uttered threatening remarks to them and making a call to the woman telling her he was going to call to the house and “shoot” his ex.

McCafferty was enraged after his former partner split from him and began a relationship with the woman.

Depute fiscal Martina McGuigan said: “At 8pm he was shouting insulting remarks through the letterbox. He was shouting ‘I want to put a bullet in his face. I’ve got a gun.’ I would also move for the court to impose a non-harassment order against McCafferty. The couple wish the additional protection from the court.”

McCafferty’s defence lawyer, Miss Bradley said: “He accepts he acted intentionally recklessly and it was his intention to incite fear and alarm, but he had no intention to carry it out. He had been in a relationship with the man for 10 months. He was completely irate and regrets his actions. He is completely ashamed that this has come to this stage.”

McCafferty, of Garscube Road, Queens Cross, Glasgow, also admitted having a kitchen knife in his car when he was stopped and searched by police at Knightswood Road on January 10, this year.

His lawyer claimed to the court the knife was a “fishing knife” and was not his, although he knew it was in the car.

Sheriff William Gallacher told McCafferty: “There was nothing reckless about it. This was a case of utter ongoing intimidation. It was a very determined ongoing situation. Your behaviour was utterly disgraceful.”

“It was a deliberate attempt to put these two people into a state of fear and alarm. On balance and only because of your past history I will give you the opportunity of performing a community payback order.

“It is a direct alternative to custody. Breach it and there will be no alternative. You will go to prison.”

The sheriff ordered McCafferty to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work. He was also slapped with a three years non-harassment order, banning him from communicating in any way with his two victims.