Mark Fitzgerald, 43, formerly of Middlemiss Place, appeared before magistrate Cate Follent on Wednesday for sentencing. Submissions in the matter were heard on Monday.

Fitzgerald had previously pleaded guilty to charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intimidation and destroy or damage property

Legal Aid solicitor Mr Cheng, who was representing Fitzgerald, conceded the Section 5 threshold had been crossed, meaning there was no alternative to a full-time custodial sentence.

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Mr Cheng said drug use had plagued his client's life for some time and he was under the influence of drugs at the time of offending.

The court heard Fitzgerald also has mental health issues and a narcissistic disorder, but "has demonstrated in custody a willingness to work on the issues that have brought him before the court".

DPP solicitor Ms Ward said Fitzgerald's offending conduct "would have been terrifying for the victim".

On one occasion he threw a pedestal fan at the victim, causing an injury to her arm. On another occasion he poured petrol on a rag and had a lighter in one hand.

And on another day he sprayed the victim with degreaser and lit a cigarette lighter. The court also heard he ran up to a vehicle and smashed two windows with a hammer while she was inside the vehicle.

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"The offences were not isolated, they occurred over a period [of time] and must have been terrifying for the victim, especially the petrol and degreaser," Ms Ward said.

Ms Follent noted Fitzgerald had a lengthy criminal history and said the court was guarded about his prospects of rehabilitation.

She sentenced him to a head sentence of four years jail, expiring March 20, 2023, with a non parole period of two years and 10 months. His earliest release date will be January 20, 2022.