The 45-year-old man was subject to a protection order and on parole for an assault on the same woman when he started his campaign of harassment in March.

The ACT Magistrates Court heard on Thursday that the man sent the woman a text that said: “Sleep with me or I will get you.”

He then called her and told her she was going to die.

The woman returned home on the evening of March 5 to find the man standing about 52 metres from her house – in contravention of the protection order.

He then pointed a small axe in her direction.

The woman called police, who were present when the offender called her phone and warned she was “going to get it”.

The man was arrested and pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court to one count of contravening a protection order.

He appeared for sentence before Magistrate Karen Fryar on Thursday.

The court heard that the man claimed he approached the woman after the pair had ongoing arguments about his access to his children.

But Ms Fryar said the excuse had been “extraordinary”.

“His intention was simply vindictive,” Ms Fryar said.

“It is a typical example of family violence offending, motivated by attempting to exert power and control by threatening and intimidating behaviour.

“And the reality is that nothing is more likely to ensure the defendant will have little contact with his children in the future than behaving in that manner.”

The court heard the offender had a criminal history that spanned 31 years and included convictions for violence, such as manslaughter, assault and malicious injury.

He had no previous history of contravening protection orders, but did have a history of breaching court orders.

“These types of matters show that the defendant has scant regard for court orders,” Ms Fryar said.

The court heard the victim continued to suffer anxiety and fear, and suffered nightmares.

A pre-sentence report said the man struggled with substance abuse issues, although the report author noted he had limited motivation to address his addiction.

He was assessed as a medium to high risk of reoffending.

Ms Fryar sentenced the man - who is already serving time for an unrelated offence - to 20 months jail.

He will be eligible for parole in February 2016.

“When looking at the defendant’s prior record, one can see that over the years he has been given many opportunities … to address issues that go to his rehabilitation,” the magistrate said.

“Still the defendant continues to offend and continues to abuse illicit substances and alcohol.

“I must say that his prospects of rehabilitation are dim and considerations with regard to the protection of the community override that factor.”