County Court Judge Mark Taft jailed Shane Allen, 35, of Cranbourne, for 19 months. The court heard that Allen had terrorised his partner, the mother of his three children.

Allen pleaded guilty to charges of using a carriage service to menace, making a threat to kill, assault and possessing a firearm.

Judge Taft said Allen's partner and their children had been living with her father in August 2013 because she was so afraid of him.

Their relationship had started to break down in 2009 after she found out he was having an affair.

On August 16, 2013, Allen sent 31 text messages to his partner's father threatening to come to the house and kill him.

One text read: "bullet in your head who's gutless now u f--k no respect come on tough guy".

Two weeks later Allen grabbed his partner by the hair, dragged her into the garage and began attacking her. He put her in a headlock and tried to stop her from breathing but she broke away and ran back to the house to the children.

Allen then took a sawn-off shot gun from the garage and yelled out to his partner that he had a gun and was coming to get her.

Allen's partner grabbed her children and ran to the end of the street before turning around to see Allen standing there with the shotgun. He fired two shots into the air.

Allen, who threatened to blow away a neighbour who came outside to see what was happening, later fled interstate and was arrested in New South Wales.

Judge Taft said Allen's partner dreaded the day of his release from prison.

In her victim impact statement, she said she did not have much of a life.

"I've lost most of my friends due to the fear they have when visiting me and the domestic violence that was happening."

"I am angry. I am hurt. I am annoyed. I am frustrated.

"I'm fearful for my children's lives, my parents and my own after what they have been threatened with and been through.

"My children are angry, their behaviour has changed and they blame me for everything.

"I fear for our safety once my ex is released.

"I'm terrified I may experience further abuse. I'm terrified of guns."

Judge Taft said Allen began using cannabis from the age of 13 and amphetamines two years later. His drug use increased to the point where he was smoking 1.7 grams of ice a day and drinking between two and 22 beers a day.

Allen was jailed for 19 months and 14 days, placed on a three-year community corrections order and will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work.