A MAN who flouted a court order to stay away from a woman just one day after being released from prison has been sent back to jail.

John Trail, 25, was given a three-year non-harassment directive after popping valium pills, stealing her bank card and threatening her with violence at her home.

He subjected the woman to a two-hour long ordeal after forming a relationship with her when she'd given him a place to stay.

Police found him hiding under a bed within her Greenock flat the day after he was freed from a jail term.

The town's sheriff court heard how officers were alerted via a phone call from the woman, who later told them that she'd had an argument with a family member.

Prosecutor Frankie Morgan said: "Due to markers on police systems, officers attended to do a welfare check and they were aware of the existence of the non-harassment order.

"The police carried out a search and during that search they found the accused hiding under a bed.

"The woman was hostile and refused to engage further with the officers."

Trail was jailed in May and had the non-harassment order imposed by Sheriff Andrew McIntyre, who told him: "I have no doubt that this woman was genuinely afraid of your conduct."

The woman had told a trial: "He's a bully. He bullies me.

"He wanted to sit in my house and do what he wanted — get full of valium.

"I tried to get him out of the house and he said that if I grabbed him again he would punch my private parts in."

Trail was released from prison on November 7 and was found in breach of the non-harassment order at 3.30am on November 8.

His lawyer, Gerry Keenan, told the court: "The presence of Mr Trail at her flat was entirely consensual.

"Over time the woman's attitude appears to have been softening and she let it be known that she wanted to reconcile, and for him to take whatever legal steps to have the order removed.

"However, at the end of the day the order is there and he has to accept it."

Sheriff Daniel Kelly said: "In my view the only way to deal with this is through a custodial sentence."

Trail was sentenced to eight months, backdated to November 8 when he was first remanded in custody.

The non-harassment order remains preventing him from approaching or contacting the woman, or attempting to so, in any way, remains in place.