A 24-year-old man snapped after reading comments about himself made by his partner on the social networking site Facebook, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

James Bell jumped out of bed at around 9am last Monday morning and confronted Jodie Turnbull, who was in the living room, about the comments.

During the disturbance at the house in Teviotdale Court, Hawick, Bell admitted shouting and swearing and overturning a glass coffee table causing it to break.

The court was told he left the scene and went to his mother’s home after Ms Turnbull’s cousins arrived and saw the damage.

They followed him and the arguing continued.

Bell went to Hawick Police Station voluntarily but was arrested and appeared from custody on the following Tuesday morning.

Defence lawyer Iain Burke said his client admitted he was angry about the comments made on Facebook and that the relationship with Ms Turnbull was now over.

He added it was all part of a family feud which had been fuelled by the Facebook comments.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond pointed out it was Bell’s second domestic-related conviction in 12 months and added if there was a repeat the matter would be addressed differently.

Sentence was deferred for 12 months for good behaviour.