An excommunicated Mormon who threatened to slaughter a church congregation is facing a lifelong restriction order.

James Lynn-Wilson told the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they had 48 hours to hand over its former diocesan president Stephen Kerr or face a massacre.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard the 43-year-old made the threats after his son had been baptised into the religious organisation.

Lynn-Wilson previously pleaded guilty to stalking and threatening Mr Kerr, a 56-year-old father-of-four, his family and church members.

On Wednesday, the court heard the accused had continued to phone the Kerr family from jail while awaiting sentence.

Sheriff William Gilchrist referred sentencing to the High Court so a lifelong restriction order could be considered in this case.

If such an order was imposed, Lynn-Wilson would only be released into the community when the parole board no longer considered him a threat to public safety.

According to the report, Lynn-Wilson "expressed no regret for these offences and views his actions as justified, and that the victim blessed his son without permission".

The report added: "He appears to view the intimidation of others as a legitimate conflict-resolution strategy and said he would continue to harass the victim and his family even if they apologised for the wrong he perceives they have done to him."

Sheriff Gilchrist asked Lynn-Wilson: "How can I be certain that you will not continue to use this kind of behaviour to get what you want?

"I am concerned that there is a need to manage the risk that you pose. There's a body called the Risk Management Authority who can but I can't refer you to it."

Sheriff Gilchrist said the High Court had the power to refer someone to the authority, which oversees the implementation of lifelong restriction orders in Scotland.

Previously, the court heard there was a "history" of animosity from Lynn-Wilson, who was excommunicated from the Church in 2004 for "conduct unbecoming" towards Mr Kerr.

The court heard Lynn-Wilson began to bombard Mr Kerr's home in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, with phone calls on February 16 despite a live Court of Session interdict preventing him from communicating with any member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the Kerr family.

Speaking to Mr Kerr's son, Lynn-Wilson mentioned a forthcoming meeting at their local church in Alloa, Clackmannanshire and made a reference to the Dunblane massacre.

A short time later, Lynn-Wilson rang the Church's global security operations centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, which church officials recorded.