A decorated war hero, who once shot a Taliban warlord from a mile away, sparked a full-scale search after threatening to throw himself off a Scottish landmark.
Christopher Reynolds sent text messages to his ex-girlfriend, Leanne Colquhoun, saying he intended to end his life by jumping from the Forth Bridge.
Police launched a missing person search and found him in his home town of Dalgety Bay.
In 2010 Reynolds was one of four Black Watch soldiers presented with the Military Cross by the Queen for courageous acts in Afghanistan.
One of the sniper’s 32 kills included a Taliban commander known as Mula, whom he shot from a distance of more than 6,000 feet after camping out on a roof for three days.
However, since returning from the war zone, Reynolds has suffered from deteriorating mental health.
At Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday he admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at the city’s Kingswell Terrace by shouting, swearing and striking a front door on September 9 last year.
He also admitted that on November 28 he sent an offensive text message stating that he wished to kill himself.
Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told the court that the suicide threats were in seven text messages sent to Ms Colquhoun between 11.40am and 1pm.
“He threatened to jump off the Forth Rail Bridge so she contacted police and a full missing person inquiry was carried out,” said Ms Marshall.
“The accused was traced in Dalgety Bay at around 5pm. He was cautioned and charged, and replied, ‘I was only wanting a bit of help’.”
Defence solicitor Billy Somerville said Reynolds was seeking assistance from a variety of sources.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis deferred sentence on Reynolds, 30, of Couston Drive, Dalgety Bay, until June for reports.
In 2009 Corporal Reynolds was commended for keeping watch for three days as he waited for the perfect conditions to shoot Mula, the mastermind behind a string of attacks.
Reynolds said at the time: “I was quite proud of that shot it is the longest recorded kill in Afghanistan.
“I am going to use that fact as a chat-up line in the pub when I get back home.”