A North Albury man has been told in court for a second time that he must give-up alcohol in the wake of bash threats to a taxi driver.
At an earlier appearance before Albury Local Court, magistrate Miranda Moody said Matthew Settle had a major problem with drinking.
That view was repeated by defence lawyer Mitchell Brooks when the 33-year-old faced court this week for sentencing.
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"It is clear from the facts that alcohol is a continuing problem for him," Mr Brooks said.
"He finally understands that himself."
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Prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Pike said Settle's threats, combined with his history of alcohol-fueled offending, meant the threshold for a jail sentence had been crossed.
Magistrate Richard Funston agreed, imposing a six-month jail term on Settle over the incident in North Street, Albury, on August 8 about 10.35pm.
He previously pleaded guilty to intimidation.
Police who arrived on scene offered to give Settle, who clearly was intoxicated, a lift home, which he accepted before getting aggressive towards the driver.
"He's going to buy me tea then I'm gunna bash him, he told the officers.
Settle turned to the driver and said: "I'm going to bash you, c--t."
Mr Funston told Settle had no choice but to stop drinking.
"I mean, it's appalling behaviour to talk to someone like that," he said.
"You've obviously got a major alcohol problem and you've got to deal with it."
Settle will get to serve his sentence in the community by way of an intensive corrections order.
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