A MAN who has an anti-social behaviour order banning him from all women repeatedly targeted a young female in Gourock — after offering her fresh fish.

Alexander McCullough, 54, made a beeline for the 28-year-old after discovering that she was a member of a walking club he had recently joined in the town.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how McCullough, of Shore Street, initially told the woman that she was welcome to fish that he'd caught.

But his attempts to draw her in to conversations have landed him in jail as he awaits sentence for repeated breaches of his ASBO.

Prosecutor John Penman said: "From an initial walk that the woman took part in, the accused approached her and, in short, tried to befriended her and engage her in conversation.

"He initially attended at her home with the offer of fish that he had caught.

"She accepted the offer and she suggested that she could meet him to collect it, however, he suggested that he could attend at her address to drop it off."

McCullough continually pestered the woman — who was said to be 'uncomfortable' in his presence — between October 30 and December 4 last year.

He turned up at her flat unannounced on numerous occasions and persistently targeted her at The Bothy walking club at Gourock railway station.

The conditions of the ASBO prohibit McCullough from having any unsupervised contact or communication of any kind with any female other than contact that is inadvertent and not reasonably avoidable in the course of daily life.

Fiscal depute Mr Penman said: "It has to be said that the woman felt uncomfortable, and on one occasion a neighbour saw Mr McCullough standing outside her front door and saw her reaction in welcoming the neighbour's presence and trying to bring the conversation with the accused to an end.

"Things culminated in early December because the complainer, after a number of visits from the accused, contacted the police.

"On being cautioned and charged, the accused replied, 'Aye'."

McCullough pleaded guilty to breaching his ASBO without reasonable excuse.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre has deferred sentence on McCullough until April 8 for a background report and remanded him in custody.