A MAN who told his ex-partner that she would never see her child again is set to go unpunished.

Stephen Mullen made a string of menacing phone calls to the woman after she decided to end their six-year relationship.

In one, Mullen, 43, declared: "I've paid a junkie £100 to come and sort you out."

His own lawyer described his behaviour as 'disgraceful'.

However, Sheriff Linda Smith has recommended that Mullen — who waited until the day of his trial to plead guilty — be admonished for the offences.

Prosecutor Frankie Morgan said: "At the time of the incidents the accused and the complainer had been in an on-off relationship for six years and lived separately.

"She had informed him that she no longer wanted the relationship.

"The complainer was at a friend's house when she received a phone call from the accused and she put him on loudspeaker.

"The accused was heard to shout for around three minutes, during which he repeatedly swore and appeared to direct verbal abuse towards the the complainer."

Fiscal depute Mr Morgan added: "The next day at around 5.45pm the complainer was at home with her child when she received a call from the accused.

"Again she put him on loudspeaker and the accused was swearing repeatedly.

"He stated, 'You will never see your daughter again'.

"He added, 'I've paid a junkie £100 to come and sort you out'."

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how the woman — who had recorded the call — immediately contacted police.

Mullen, of the town's Arden Road, committed the offences between June 8 and 9 and was arrested on June 13.

His lawyer said: "He makes no excuse for the language used which, on any objective view, is disgraceful."

Sheriff Linda Smith told Mullen: "I will defer sentence for you to be of good behaviour and, if you are of good behaviour, I'll mark the papers now that you should be admonished."

The case is due to call again on February 12 next year.