A COUNTY handyman sent obscene messages to a customer claiming he had seen up her skirt while he carried out work at her home.

Marc Anderson, 49, attended at the woman’s property in Haddington to carry out work after she had employed him on several occasions in the past.

Anderson carried out the work before leaving the home without any complaints over his behaviour in March last year.

But he drunkenly texted the woman later that evening stating he “felt guilty” for taking a payment of £40 and his messages included him saying “I should have paid you” as he said he had seen up her skirt.

A further message said: “I’m so sorry. I know I can’t come back.”

'Thoroughly ashamed'

The matter was reported to the police and the handyman was later arrested and charged.

Anderson pleaded guilty to sending messages to the woman that were grossly offensive when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.

Solicitor Angela Craig said that her client, of Carlyle Gardens, Haddington, was “thoroughly ashamed” at what he had done.

Sheriff Graham Primrose QC said that Anderson had committed “a nasty offence” and deferred sentence to next month for social work reports to be prepared.

Anderson admitted sending electronic messages to the woman that were grossly offensive, or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, while carrying out work at her home on March 27 last year.