A man has been fined $1,000 after he admitted threatening to beat his girlfriend “like a man”.

Dwight Burch, 54, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court yesterday to one count of using threatening words during an argument on September 6.

Prosecutor Susan Mulligan told the court that Burch and Juliette Hayward, who had an on-and-off relationship, began to argue near her mother’s home that afternoon.

During the dispute, Burch allegedly told Ms Hayward: “I will f*** you up and cut your throat and your brother will do nothing. I will go get my gun and shoot you right in the head.”

Police were contacted and Burch was subsequently arrested. During a recorded interview, Burch admitted that he had threatened Ms Hayward, but denied the words that were attributed to him.

Instead, he told officers that he had threatened to burn her motorcycle and “beat her like a man that owes me money”.

The Hamilton Parish man told the court that Ms Hayward had repeatedly assaulted him in the past and had threatened to call the police on him and get him arrested.

He also told the court that despite his words, he would never strike a woman.

“I have since left her, and it’s been the best two months of my life,” he added.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo noted that Burch has been convicted previously of threatening women, suggesting that the defendant should keep away from women in the future.