When Darryll Stanton had a bust-up with his wife, he ended up cutting himself on his head with a disposable razor and police were called.
The 37-year-old admitted that when he is angry he either self-harms or punches walls.
His lawyer, Mat Patrick, added: “When he drinks, he can become abusive.”
Stanton pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday that the couple were in their home in Hillend Drive, Hawick, on February 15 when they started arguing about money.
Ms Bradley said: “She had been out to pawn some jewellery to pay a bill and he accused of her of being with an ex-partner and called her a dirty slag.
“He went to sleep and she consumed some alcohol, and he woke up and they started arguing again.
“He went out and got a bottle of wine and his wife was on the phone to a friend when he came back and he began shouting and swearing. At this point he had a disposable razor over his head, causing minor abrasions, and appeared to be self-harming and police were called.”
Ms Bradley revealed that his wife kept a diary of his behaviour which Sheriff Craig Turnbull later described as alarming.
The sheriff deferred sentence for good behaviour for three months.