A MAN plagued a woman with phone calls while she was at her work after she broke up with him, a Borders court has been told.

Shane Donnelly, 21, pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct likely to cause fear and alarm to his former partner by repeatedly phoning her and making a threat towards her while she was working in Hawick on the night of April 11.

The building labourer, who now lives in Duddo, Northumberland, was ordered to pay a total of £520 and a non-harassment order has been imposed for two years during which he must have no contact with the woman.

In Jedburgh Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Fiona Hamilton said: "There had been a fall out and the complainer wanted to end the relationship on April 9.

"He had been staying at hers and she asked him to leave which he did.

"He phoned and texted her but she said she just wanted them to be friends.

"On the night of April 11 the accused began to phone her from his mobile number. He said he had been drinking.

"She was working as a support worker through the night but he made 73 calls in total.

"Early in the morning he became nasty in the calls and made a threat to murder her.

"She answered about 11 of them, she thinks, but the calls continued.

"She was trying to work and trying to ignore the calls and eventually she contacted the police.

"When the police arrived her phone rang out with calls from the accused's number."

Donnelly was traced by police on April 22 and made no reply to being cautioned and charged.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had mental health difficulties and suffered from PTSD.

He said that although the couple had broken up, Donnelly still had belongings in her home.

Mr Hulme said there would be no opposition to a non-harassment order being imposed.

The court had heard earlier the woman was "petrified" of Donnelly.

Donnelly was fined £350 and ordered to pay £150 compensation to his former partner and a £20 victim surcharge was added.