The 33-year-old man appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to persistently breaching a family violence intervention order.

The court heard over a 12-hour period on January 30 this year, the man sent more than 40 text messages to his former partner.

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The text messages were verbally abusive, calling her "a dog" and saying he "hopes (she) gets cancer because (she) deserves it".

The man also called the woman more than 50 times on the same day.

The 33-year-old was arrested and taken to the Bendigo Police Station on February 2.

He told police he was aware there was an intervention order in place but that she had contacted him first.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Healy told the court the man had already spent 13 days in custody.

She submitted that while there were no excuses for the offending, there was evidence the man's partner had sent him messages first.

Read other court: Bail for man who allegedly assaulted his partner

Ms Healy said the woman's texts sent the man "over the edge".

Magistrate Patrick Southey said the provocation would reduce the sentence but not excuse the offending.

"It was an appalling barrage of abuse," Mr Southey said. "They were foul-mouth comments. It was a serious example of the offence.

"The provocation makes some difference but are you going to take the bait every time?"

Mr Southey convicted and sentenced the man to one month in jail, with 13 days reckoned as already served.

The man was ordered to complete a community corrections order when released.

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