A GREENOCK man threatened to stab his former partner of 31 years after discovering she'd started a new relationship.

Thomas McMaster, 60, told the woman that he would knife her and her new man if he ever saw them together.

McMaster had gone to his ex's home to collect a key, but then told her: "If I see you and your new boyfriend I'll stab you both."

The woman was so concerned about the threat that she left the property and alerted police.

Prosecutor Frankie Morgan told Greenock Sheriff Court: "The accused and the complainer were in a relationship for 31 years.

"His ex-partner had started a relationship with someone else.

"The complainer contacted her mother, who advised her to leave the locus and thereafter contact the police, which she did.

"The accused was traced and arrested and made full admissions and co-operated fully with the police.

"When cautioned and charged he replied, 'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done it — it will never happen again'."

McMaster, of Wren Road in Greenock, committed the offence on April 29.

His lawyer Gerry Keenan said: "He accepts that the relationship is over.

"His comments were very much in the heat of the moment on learning that his former partner had formed a new relationship.

"This was a source of great disappointment and anger to him."

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre ordered a background report on McMaster and told him: "On many occasions the court is asked to accept that certain threats made are empty ones.

"I want to know more about you before passing sentence."

The case is due to call again on August 21.