Geoffrey David Campbell, 34, formerly of Cox Lane, Eglinton, appeared before Bathurst Local Court.

His solicitor Emma Mason said Campbell had been drinking up to 210 standard drinks a week, but, since the offence, he had had alcohol-free weeks.

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Ms Mason said there had been a "huge swing from the state of play at the time of the offence".

She said her client had moved from Bathurst to the Central Coast and the "heat has come out of the relationship".

She said her client was working, had been employed two years with the same company and accepted how the victim in the matter might feel as a result of his offending.

Police facts told how between March 16, 2020 and May 3, 2020, the accused sent the victim text messages saying he will make it his mission "to [expletive] with her plans" and "I will break you without violence without harassing you without any form of DV. I'm far smarter and far more cunning but it will happen and you won't even see it until its reality and you'll be laying in the shower crying in a ball."

Between 1.30pm and 1.55pm on March 22, the accused called the victim approximately 16 times and sent approximately 20 messages, according to the police facts.

On May 3, during a verbal argument, he said words to the effect of he would put a bullet in the victim's head and everyone else around her, according to the police facts.

The victim began recording the conversation and the accused could be heard saying: "I don't want to hurt anyone, I don't want to be an [expletive]. I'm walking away because I'm going to snap."

When the victim said "you don't need to threaten me", the accused said "I didn't threaten you. That wasn't intended".

The victim felt fearful of the accused and stayed with a family member.

On May 5, the victim attended the police station to make a statement expressing concern the accused was capable of carrying out his threats and she was scared of becoming a statistic.

When police interviewed the accused, he was adamant he didn't intend it as a threat, but acknowledged any reasonable person would have felt threatened by his comments.

In sentencing, Ms Follent took into account Campbell's early plea of guilt, his successful completion of the MERIT program and positive report.

While she said his prospects for rehabilitation were good, she said she needed to consider the community's interests and a message needed to be sent on domestic violence related incidents.

Campbell was convicted, placed on an 18-month community corrections order and fined $750.