A CREEP who harassed his neighbour shouted through her letterbox that he fancied her and had been watching her, posted a letter, and cried outside her door.

Francis Coyle, 26, appeared in Glasgow Sheriff Court and was slammed by a sheriff for his “despicable” behaviour towards the woman.

The prosecutor said: “In August last year, the complainer was within her home. At around midnight the accused knocked on her front door. When she answered, he appeared to be heavily intoxicated. The accused threatened to harm himself if she phoned the police on him. She asked the accused to stay away.”

In another incident on the morning of October 19, last year, the woman was taking a child to nursery when she noticed Coyle hanging out of his window. She asked him to go back inside but he replied, “baby, just come back”.

The woman returned to her flat and noticed Coyle in the close. She waited for him to go back to his flat. But as she approached her front door, Coyle turned up and said, “I’m sorry, I’m a good guy”.

The prosecutor added: “The complainer tried to close the door on the accused. He began to shout through the letterbox ‘I fancy you; I want to take you on a date. I love you and I’ve been watching you’.

“She asked him to leave, or she would contact police. He began crying within the common close and returned five minutes later shouting through the letterbox again. He stated he would make it up to her. He left and returned to his flat.

“Around an hour later, she noted her door handle was being tried five or six times and observed a note through her letterbox. It said, ‘I’m sorry - Frankie your neighbour’.

“The accused returned five minutes later and said, ‘I’m sorry for what I done’. Police were contacted that day.”

They attended and made unsuccessful attempts to trace Coyle. He was then traced later that night within his flat and was arrested and conveyed to London Road police station.

The court heard that when he was cautioned and charged, he replied, “I know I was causing a bit of a nuisance. I fancy her downstairs. That doesn’t make me a weirdo.”

Coyle’s lawyer said: “I would invite the court to impose a community payback order with supervision and unpaid work. There is clearly a mental health background, but the behaviour is due to alcohol.

“Since the incident, he has taken steps to assist himself and address the underlying problems. The report is in positive terms. He’s accepted responsibility and he’s realised how this has affected the complainer.

“He recognises this is a serious matter.”

Coyle, who has been staying at his parent’s home due to bail conditions, informed his lawyer that he wants to be able to return to his own flat. The defence solicitor said: “I would ask if you could impose an order which would allow him to return to his home but not contact the complainer.”

Sheriff Mark McGuire said: “This was despicable. I don’t care if you were drunk, that’s not an excuse. Your behaviour must have been terrifying for your victim. She has no interest in you. Let me make that absolutely crystal clear to you. She has no interest whatsoever. You have a record of convictions which does you no favour. It’s open for me to send you to jail, however, I’m not going to do that. I’m minded to follow the recommendation and impose a community payback order with supervision and unpaid work. That will serve to punish you and hopefully rehabilitate you.”

Coyle, of Castlemilk, was ordered to be under social work supervision for two years and carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

A non-harassment order was imposed.

Sheriff McGuire told him: “You are prohibited from entering her flat or any other address the victim will reside in for three years. Do not approach or attempt to communicate with her for three years.

“Let me spell it out for you. You’re not allowed to speak to her, you’re not allowed to phone her, text her, email her, post a letter. Don’t do it. If you happen to see her in the street, you would be well advised to turn around and go the way other way. You’re going to have to be very careful.

“If you see her in the close, you wait until she leaves the building or goes into her flat before you move. If you breach this order, you’ll be brought back before the court, and you won’t be walking out.”