BACKGROUND reports have been ordered into a Hawick man who admitted threatening or abusive behaviour involving his partner.

Forty-five-year-old Ricky Lee pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing at the woman at a house in Roxburgh Place on October 23.

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Drew Long, prosecuting, said the incident started in the early hours of the morning when the woman contacted police and said Lee was being abusive towards her and was refusing to leave the property.

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Defence lawyer Liam Alexander told Selkirk Sheriff Court that it was the culmination of a difficult period in the couple’s relationship.

He said his client was asleep and she was waking him up and the argument developed.

Mr Alexander added: “Things got out of hand after that. But she does not feel threatened by Mr Lee and wants the relationship to continue.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until December 11 for the production of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.