Paul Michum Stevenson (50) came before the Dunedin District Court yesterday having spent the previous night behind bars to sober up.
The day before was his scheduled sentencing day but the defendant told Judge Michael Crosbie he had shared a jug of beer at Heffs Hotel in South Dunedin earlier that day.
Then he admitted he had another beer at the Law Courts Hotel, beside the courthouse, before the hearing.
Defence counsel Pete Tuala apologised on his client's behalf for the previous day's debacle.
"He took yesterday's sentencing seriously," he said.
"He was anxious and nervous and alcohol relaxed him."
Judge Crosbie accepted the boozing could have been indicative of apprehension or interpreted in a more derogatory way.
"I could equally view it as you not giving a hoot, which is the impression I currently have," he said.
Stevenson stressed he was prepared to fight his substance-abuse demons.
"I do give a hoot, your honour."
After receiving some concerning news about his health, Stevenson began drinking, contrary to the doctor's orders.
His partner left the address.
Later that evening, Stevenson left a message on the woman's phone threatening to stab "Bliss", her daughter's dog, if no-one picked it up in 10 minutes.
The next day, he told his partner that if her daughter came to collect the dog, he would stab her.
Stevenson said the dog now lived with him and he would never hurt it.
Judge Crosbie sentenced the defendant on a charge of intimidation to three months' community detention and six months' supervision.
Stevenson was barred from consuming alcohol while serving the sentence and was ordered to submit to a breath test if instructed.
If he was to fail such a test, the judge said, he would be served with a breach and be hauled before the court to be resentenced.
The other charge Stevenson faced - of threatening to do grievous bodily harm - would hang over him.
With such severe health concerns, Judge Crosbie said the man had a much bigger threat than imprisonment looming if he failed to abstain from alcohol.
