A GREENOCK pensioner has been charged with attempted extortion after allegedly trying to blackmail his ex-partner into giving up her deeds to the couple's west end home.

Edward McGeown is accused of attempting to force his former partner to sign a legal document relinquishing her rights to the Newark Street property.

The Crown says that McGeown, 66, sent repeated emails to the woman threatening to publicly disseminate private information regarding her family that she had shared with him.

McGeown is alleged to have issued the claimed threats in August 2022 and warned that he would publish the details if the alleged victim failed to sign a minute of agreement relinquishing her rights to the property which she owned jointly with him.

Court papers allege that he did this in an attempt to compel her to sign the document.

McGeown, represented by lawyer Gerry Keenan, has pleaded not guilty.

A trial has been scheduled to begin at the sheriff court on September 9 and is expected to last up to four days.