A Wanganui man set fire to a suitcase of his own clothes during an argument with his partner.
During the altercation, 28-year-old Karl John Vallis threw sugar, coffee containers and a knife at his partner.
He then held a knife to his throat and threatened to kill himself - and finally doused a suitcase full of his clothes in petrol and lit it.
Reading from the police summary at Whanganui District Court yesterday, prosecutor Sergeant Steve Butler said when Vallis saw the victim crying over his actions he "snapped out of it".
Vallis appeared before Judge David Cameron charged with behaving threateningly. He pleaded guilty through lawyer Debbie Goodlet.