A sick thug jailed for abusing his ex continued to torment his former partner from prison.

Robert Mclaughlan, 35, admitted repeatedly phoning and writing to the woman from HMP Kilmarnock while awaiting trial for a series of sickening assaults on the woman and two children.

McLaughlan, who court papers state previously went by the surname Scott, was found guilty of subjecting the woman to assaults and threats over a four-year period, including hitting her, choking her, brandishing a hammer and tearing up medical records.

He was also found guilty of assaults on a one-year-old boy and a teenager during this time.

When he returned to court on Monday, August 27, he pled guilty to repeatedly breaching an order not to approach, contact, or communicate with his former partner on various occasions between November 24 2017 and April 12 2018.

He also pled guilty to a charge of causing the woman fear and alarm through stalking.

Sheriff Foran sentenced McLauglan to another month in prison – running consecutive with his earlier sentence of two years for the abuse between January 3, 2013 and July 20, 2017.

He will remain under supervision for 12 months after his release.