A woman told how her ex-partner flicked a lighter outside her door and said: "I am going to burn your house down."
Her ordeal took place on August 11 and was described in a statement read in court as building worker Craig Johnson sat in the dock.
Neil Hollett, prosecuting, said the couple had been out drinking in Sherwood and she spoke of him becoming "verbally nasty". She headed home before him, closed her door and sat against it with the lights off.
When Johnson arrived, he was heard to say: "If there is somebody in there, he had better be as hard as nails.
"I am going to burn your house down. I don't care if I have to burn the whole flat down."
Mr Hollett said: "She heard a lighter being lit at that point. She could hear a lighter from the corner of the door."
Police officers then arrived and detained Johnson, 50, of Wiverton Road, Forest Fields. He pleaded guilty to threatening to burn a house down and intending the woman would fear that would happen.
"He said he didn't recall if he used the lighter. He can't say why it happened," Mr Hollett told Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
He said the woman did not ask for a court order to keep Johnson away although "there is no suggestion of a reconciliation".
Rob Keeble, mitigating, said the woman provided no explanation for why she blocked his access to her flat, especially as he had a key.
Having studied a photo of the door, Mr Keeble said: "It appears to be smoky residue from the flame of the lighter.
"This is clearly not a serious attempt to cause criminal damage by fire. It is a rather unusual case because he is normally a decent sort of bloke.
"He was frustrated and had a skinful of ale," added Mr Keeble.
A two-year conditional discharge was ordered for Johnson but he must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £21 government surcharge.
District Judge Tim Spruce told him: "It is an unpleasant offence which potentially could have caused a lot more damage than it did.
"You could not remember it because you had far too much to drink. You put your partner in a degree of fear.
"I accept it is out of character, a one-off matter."
