Matthew Phillip Andrews, 33, previously of Ardlie Street, Warrnambool, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week for a contest mention but pleaded guilty to charges after being given a sentencing indication.

Victorian chief magistrate Peter Lauritsen said if the case could be resolved Andrews would be sentenced to a 12-month jail term. He warned if charges were proven after Andrews pleaded not guilty the accused, who has a long criminal history, could expect to spend the next 21 months in jail.

Andrews accepted the offer and was ordered to serve 12 months in jail with his 83 days already spent in custody cut from his sentence.

Police alleged Andrews and the victim had been in a relationship for seven months when they stayed together at a central Warrnambool motel during July last year.

Andrews, who has a history of drug use and mental health issues, is alleged to have choked her by putting his hands around her neck.

In August or September last year Andrews and the woman were staying at an Ardlie Street address.

Andrews was woken up and punched the woman several times to the face and ribs, knocking out a tooth.

He is then alleged to have stood over the woman with a double-barrelled shotgun and threatened to kill her.

In November Andrews smashed a vehicle dashboard with a hammer before he broke into the woman’s crisis accommodation unit through a window.

He had a black case and green hessian bag in which the victim knew Andrews carried guns.

In court on November 19 last year Andrews received a three-month suspended jail term.

That night police executed a search warrant at the unit and found a double-barrelled shotgun shoved under a bed which was previously stolen from a Glenormiston property.

Defence counsel Matt Senia said his client denied all allegations and Andrews’ partner lost her tooth because of her long-term drug use.

He said Andrews had no knowledge of the gun found by police as it was not his unit.

Mr Senia said Andrews had spent the majority of the past four years in jail.