A LOCHGELLY father told the mother of his child that she was going to get her face "done in".

Several neighbours witnessed the threatening behaviour of Derran Bell and called the police.

Bell, 21, of Main Street, previously admitted that on June 21 at an address in Lochgelly, he did behave in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm in that he did attend at said premises, shout, swear, act in an aggressive manner towards his former partner, utter a threat or violence and repeatedly kick a door, and did commit this offence while on bail, having been granted bail on April 6 and April 25.

Also, being an accused person and having been granted bail on April 25 and being subject to the condition that he would appear at the time and place appointed, did on June 7 without reasonable excuse, fail to appear at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Before the incident, Bell and the complainer has been in a relationship for two years but split up in July 2017. Since that time, they had remained civil with each other and Bell has been staying with the complainer so they could look after their 16 month-old daughter.

On June 21 the accused had been driven to the complainer's home at about 4.45pm. A neighbour observed him heading towards the home and then heard banging coming from the property.

He was heard shouting at the complainer and kicking the front door - at that time the police were called.

Bell was heard repeatedly saying "f***" and "b******" while continuing to shout and swear at the complainer.

Thereafter, witnesses observed the accused returning to the vehicle he arrived in while making gestures to the complainer.

He then got back out of the vehicle again and shouted through the letter box at his former partner, "you are getting your face done in". This was heard by several neighbours.

The police found Bell close to the property when they arrived and arrested him.

He admitted to police officers when they interviewed him that he said, "I am going to break your face".

Defence solicitor, Ian Beatson, said: "His position is that the complainer contacted him in regard to this matter.

"She implied that his clothing was going to get thrown out and that he was not getting his dog back."

Sheriff Charles Macnnair questioned Bell's version of events after the accused said that the complainer was shouting abuse at him when he arrived. He said: "The narrative I've just heard does not fit that".

Mr Beatson replied: "He says he went to get his belongings and she was shouting at him."

The Court heard that Bell had two other outstanding cases for domestic offences against two different complainers.

Bell also blamed his failure to attend Court on problems with his former partner and child.

Sheriff Macnair said: "Failing to appear is an inconvenience to the Court. You had no reason whatsoever not to be here."

Bell was sentenced to 65 hours of unpaid work and as the defence's story did not match the narrative of the crown, a proof of mitigation was fixed for August 23 for the domestic offence.