She repeatedly told him to leave her alone, Albury Local Court has heard, but Andrew O'Keefe's behaviour continued unabated.

When she had finally had enough, abandoning her preparation of dinner to leave the house and make her way to the family car, O'Keefe raced her outside.

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He got to the car first, lent in and grabbed the keys, which he flung as far as he could throw. It was getting dark so the victim, police said, "could not see where the keys went".

Several hours later, about 11.30pm, O'Keefe sent a text message to his wife, apologising for the assault.

O'Keefe, 43, has pleaded guilty to domestic violence-related charges of common assault and stalking or intimidation.

Defence lawyer Samantha Little said it was not O'Keefe's intention to hurt his wife; rather, "that he simply lost control".

"Mr O'Keefe is willing to change his behaviour, he is deeply remorseful for his actions," she said.

Magistrate Richard Funston said he took "enormous comfort" from hearing that O'Keefe was willing to take part in the men's behavioural change program.

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The court was told that the couple had been together for 12 years.

But more recently there had been ongoing arguments between the pair.

The woman had arrived home on February 13 about 7pm, when he and the children were in a back shed.

She was organising the evening meal when O'Keefe came inside.

Immediately, an argument broke out.

O'Keefe had a gripe that the victim was "not having things organised around the house," police said.

She swore at him and then she pleaded with him, in words to the effect of: "Just leave me alone, you need to get out."

Soon after, he punched her to the right arm, then threatened: "I'm going to grab the knife and I'm going to stab myself with it."

O'Keefe was placed on a 12-month community corrections order.

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