KEY POINTS:
A man angered by his 10-year-old son's comment about a tetraplegic punished him by duct-taping his mouth, hands and feet.
The 48-year-old was told in Tauranga District Court his reaction was "totally and completely unacceptable".
The assault was in October when the boy and his siblings were visiting their father.
The man had planned to defend a charge of assault on a child, but instead pleaded guilty after discussions with Judge Paul Geoghegan, the police prosecutor and duty solicitor Craig Tuck.
The man, who was granted final name suppression by Judge Geoghegan to "protect the right to privacy" of his child, had intended to try to represent himself and cross-examine his victim.
The man was convicted and put on a good behaviour bond for 12 months.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
