The 36-year-old, who cannot be named because that could identify the victim, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to making a threat to kill, unlawful assault, possessing a controlled weapon and receiving a drug of dependence in the police cells.

He was jailed for five months and placed on an 18-month community corrections order.

That order will include treatment for alcohol and drug abuse and 100 hours of unpaid community work.

The court heard the man physically and mentally abused the victim during their two-month relationship. On November 19 last year, the man was drinking alcohol at a Warrnambool motel when he started an argument about a cigarette lighter. The man stood over the victim and was verbally abusive.

The woman left the motel and returned later that night when the altercation continued. The offender grabbed the woman by her throat and squeezed, causing her to struggle to breathe.

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The court heard he then threw the victim onto the edge of the bed and grabbed her hard on the left thigh, causing a bruise and minor laceration.

The victim then went to bed where she cried herself to sleep before fleeing the hotel the following day.

Over the next two days the man sent the woman several messages via phone and social media, stating he would kill himself if she did not return to the motel.

Then on December 5, the man and the victim were observed near Bendigo having an argument at 3.20pm.

A witness told police the man could be seen restraining the victim against a fence while holding a 30-centimetre long knife.

The witness contacted police who arrived at the scene and found the man in an agitated state, while the victim appeared distressed and physically shaking.

When the man spotted police he allegedly hugged the victim and threw something over a fence.

He was arrested, placed in the back of a divisional van and a search of the area located the knife in the grass.

The man was remanded in custody where he was later allegedly observed receiving and later snorting prescription opioid drug Suboxone.

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