A THUG who terrorised a Barrhead policewoman by inundating her with abusive texts, phone calls and voicemails and smashing her living room window with a brick is behind bars.

Gareth Nicholas began hounding his former girlfriend Carrie-Ann McNab after they split up.

Last Friday, 35-year-old Nicholas was released on bail after pleading guilty to hounding PC McNab but has now been locked up as a result of a drinking session with his brother. 

READ MORE: Police appeal for information after plates pinched from cars

Nicholas was drinking in The Last Post, in Paisley, on Saturday night when he should have been at home due to a bail curfew.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that his abuse of PC McNab began in February this year, when he sent her “messages that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.”

The next month, Nicholas hounded her with phone calls and voicemail messages, threatening her with violence.

One morning, in the early hours, he went to her home and hurled a brick through the window while Ms McNab was inside with a seven-year-old child.

In July, Nicholas moved to Swansea after being released on bail on condition he leave Scotland – then failed to appear for a hearing in Paisley Sheriff Court.

However, last Thursday, he appeared in the dock for pre-trial hearings. Nicholas admitted his guilt and was again released on bail, again on condition not to contact PC McNab or enter her home street – but was arrested the same day for yet more domestic abuse.

He was kept in custody overnight before appearing in the dock the next day, when he pleaded guilty to breaching bail by hounding PC McNab with calls, texts and messages between August 9 and August 12.

READ MORE: Shop staff left shaken as sneaky thieves stage early morning raids​

Nicholas appeared in the dock again on Monday to admit breaking bail as a result of the drinking session.

Defence solicitor Philip Rooney said: “He was released on bail to the homeless unit in Paisley and wasn’t in when the police called. His only explanation is as narrated – he was drinking with his brother and lost track of the time.”

Sheriff Tom McCartney then adjourned sentencing for a social work report.

He told Nicholas: “Clearly, bail is not appropriate. You’ll be remanded in custody.”

Nicholas, previously of Henry Street, Barrhead, will be sentenced next month.