AN ALLOA man who went into school grounds wearing a Halloween mask and assaulted a boy has been jailed.

Robert Hanley, of Sunnyside Road, also subjected a female neighbour to a disturbing campaign of harassment, lasting more than a year.

He dressed up in a sinister Michael Myers horror costume, went to a local primary school at night, was seen banging his head against the windows and then approached two children.

Hanley then assaulted a 15-year-old boy at the school by grabbing him by the neck.

The 49-year-old appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court by video-link from prison for sentencing, having previously admitted a catalogue of offending.

On June 11, this year, at the Alloa primary school, he assaulted a boy, aged 15, by seizing him by the neck.

On the same day he attended at the school wearing a Halloween horror mask and black gloves, repeatedly struck his head against the windows, acted aggressively and approached a group of children.

Between August 1, 2021, and August 15, this year, on Sunnyside Road, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused a woman fear or alarm.

He repeatedly attended at her home uninvited at all hours of the day and night, on some occasions letting himself in, knowing he was not welcome there.

On June 1, this year, whilst in possession of Halloween horror mask he repeatedly posted notes through her letter box, stood outside, acted in an aggressive and intimidating manner, shouted, swore, made offensive comments towards her and offensive hand gestures.

Then, on August 19, he breached bail conditions not to contact the same woman when he tried enter her home and contact her.

On August 5, this year, in a police vehicle he acted aggressively, shouted, swore and made threats towards officers.

Also, between August 6-7, he repeatedly made bogus emergency calls to the police service, causing officers to be sent to his home.

Defence solicitor Michael Lowrie said his client had little recollection about many of the offences because he was so intoxicated at the time.

The incidents with the Halloween outfit were "a bizarre attempt at humour which I personally don't understand," he added.

"It's obvious he's an alcoholic," the solicitor continued.

He explained that one of the offences came after his client had received a letter he was being evicted and went to share the news with her, having been ordered to stay from her.

Sheriff Neil Bowie jailed Hanley for a year, backdated to August 22, when he was remanded in custody.

He also imposed a four-year non-harassment order to protect Hanley's former neighbour.