A MAN who threatened to pour "a boiling cup of tea" over his ex-partner has been given a chance to redeem himself.

Gordon Skilling, 61, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week where he pleaded guilty to acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards his ex-wife.

Court papers add that he would have caused her fear or alarm by shouting, swearing and uttering threats towards her.

When he admitted the charge on Thursday, September 28, the procurator fiscal debute explained how, at the time, Skilling was living with his former partner, from whom he had split in May following a ten year relationship.

On the morning of September 3, the complainer, his ex-wife, approached the accused at their then home address in Kilwinning asking if they could have a conversation about house rules.

The accused was making a cup of tea at this point and said: "I will throw this about you the now" – threatening to pour the boiling cup over her which "left her fearful".

The complainer later attended Irvine police station to report the incident, armed with an audio recording where the accused could be heard admitting the threat.

In addition, the audio recording picked up Skilling saying "I don't give a f***" repeatedly and "don’t you f***ing mention my mother f***ing shut up”.

The accused was later traced at his home address shortly after seven o’clock in the evening and was then arrested and said “I did shout and swear”.

He was taken to Saltcoats police office, where he was interviewed under caution – he was arrested and charged at the end of the interview.

Since the incident, and before appearing in court on Thursday, Skilling has been granted bail with a condition not to approach the complainer or enter the street in question. He has since taken up residency with other members of his family in Irvine.

Prior to sentence being passed in court last week, Skilling's defence solictor stated that his client apologised for losing his temper and saying things he shouldn’t have said.

He added that he believes he is a “man who can prove this was a one off”.

Passing his judgement, Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart deferred sentence for six months for a period of good behaviour.

Skilling will return to court in three months to review his progress. His bail was continued.