A tree cutter said he would stab his estranged wife during a threatening phone call.
Neil Cowper, 36, also demanded money from Debbie Cowper during the calls last November.
Cowper and his wife were previously married for 13 years but are currently going through divorce proceedings.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that Mrs Cowper received a call from her husband and was described as being “quite irate” and abusive.
Cowper shouted down the phone: “Give me my money.”
Later in the call, Cowper became more abusive and started calling her a “fat cow”.
Cowper, a first offender, then said he was going to stab her.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Letford said: “As a result, the complainer contacted police and the accused was later traced.
“He was cautioned, arrested and interviewed and accepted that he made those comments.”
Cowper, of Aboyne Avenue, pled guilty to sending electronic messages to Mrs Cowper, phoning her and leaving her voicemails, where he shouted abusive comments about her and threatened her with violence on November 12 last year.
Solicitor Stuart Hamilton said Cowper, previously employed as a tree cutter, had been out of work for a year following issues with his bosses.
He said matters came to a head due to an ongoing dispute over child contact.
Mr Hamilton initially urged Sheriff John Rafferty to defer sentence on Cowper and call for criminal justice social work reports
But Sheriff Rafferty believed he could deal with the case immediately and opted to fine Cowper.
When passing sentence, he said: “This was a significant contravention of the Communications Act.
“The language used was criminal and a threat.
“You have never been in any trouble before and I will deal with this today by means of a monetary penalty.
“This will now be on your record as a domestic crime and if you commit any other domestic offence then you are at risk of a custodial sentence.”
He was fined £240.
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