Jamie Clive McDonald, of Pindari Place, ran up and down the street wielding a short-handled tomahawk while he waited for his partner to return to her house, police facts said. 

The 30-year-old had called police moments earlier and told them of his intention and his location.

When officers arrived a taser was used on McDonald but to little effect, one prong landed in the tomahawk and the other bounced off McDonald’s thick jacket. 

Capsicum spray was then used to subdue him. 

Police said he was affected by alcohol. 

His solicitor Peter Ringbauer said her client had written a letter of apology to police. 

However magistrate Terry Lucas, interjected and pointed out McDonald had prior convictions and “every one of them is associated with alcohol”.

Mr Ringbauer said her client had been addressing his issues with alcohol and had enrolled in a detoxification program but had excused himself because his depression was increasing.

“He is due to see a doctor through the Aboriginal Medical Service ... he was drinking about 70 drinks per week and he realises there are other ways to deal with issues,” he said. 

He said he planned to accept an offer of employment in Tamworth and move there over the weekend to “start afresh”. 

He completed about two and a half months of residential rehabilitation and had co-operated with the Magistrates’ Early Referral Into Treatment program. 

Mr Ringbauer said McDonald had been on a suspended jail sentence previously. 

Mr Lucas told McDonald that his actions after the offence did him “great credit”.

“You sought to get help,” he said. 

“Clearly you needed it.”

McDonald was charged with five offences including threatening to kill, using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence, resisting arrest, affray and using a carriage service to menace and was fined $300 on top of the 12 month good behaviour bond.