A man who threatened an SNP politician on Facebook has told a court he does not know who his victim is.

Glen Scobbie, 26, of Westfield Street, Falkirk, posted pistol emojis on Tommy Shepard's page and wrote: "Shoot the b*****d."

Scobbie insisted on Monday that despite having signed a written plea of guilty to threatening the then-SNP MP for Edinburgh East, his actual target had been left-wing firebrand and former MSP Tommy Sheridan.

The contribution was posted on September 21, 2016, beneath a video of a speech by Mr Sheppard that he had put up on Facebook.

Scobbie, a porcelain caster at Falkirk-based sink manufacturers Carron Pheonix, said: "My mate had shared one of Tommy Sheridan's videos, and my mate and I are always having wee digs at each other, so I wrote 'shoot the b*****d', with two handgun emojis and a smiley face.

"I'm positive it was Tommy Sheridan. I don't even know who Tommy Sheppard is."

Scobbie's post was noticed by an aide some time later and drawn to the politician's attention.

Prosecutor Graham McLachlan told Falkirk Sheriff Court on Monday that Mr Sheppard was "concerned" about the post, and decided to report the matter to police.

Scobbie, of Falkirk, was traced. He pleaded guilty by letter to making a "menacing" post, abusive in nature, and uttering a threat of violence, contrary to the 2003 Communications Act.

He was not in court and was not represented by a solicitor.

Sheriff Derek Livingston deferred sentence for three weeks and ordained Scobbie to appear before him in person.