Knife threat could have turned deadly

Darren Millar has pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon, following an attack at a Cameron Cres home.

Angry with his neighbours who had taken care of his belongings while he was out of town, Darren Kelvin Millar pulled a steak knife from his jacket pocket and repeatedly threatened to stab one of them.

The 39-year-old, now of Gisborne, appeared before Judge Barbara Morris in Masterton District Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and was sentenced to supervision.

He was to stand trial on Tuesday.

Millar had gone to the Cameron Cres home in Masterton about 5pm on July 8 where four people were staying. He was swearing and yelling at them from the doorway before barging inside, the police summary states.

Pushing past one of the male victims, Millar pointed the knife at another man in the house as he repeatedly threatened him before pushing the victim from his chair onto the floor where he stood over him holding the knife and demanding his "gears".

Two other men intervened, wrestling with Millar until he dropped the knife and left, yelling as he did so.

Lawyer Ian Hard said his client was under the influence of alcohol at the time but since then had moved from Masterton to Gisborne where he was turning his life around.

He had undertaken anger management and was completing a carving course, Mr Hard said.

"He is motivated to do something with his life."

Judge Morris stood the case down to give Millar time to write a letter of apology to his victims before sentencing him.

She then told Millar his actions were extremely dangerous considering there was a mixture of alcohol, drugs and anger involved then "presenting a knife makes a lethal cocktail".

"Things can very tragically go wrong," she said.

Since the incident Millar had done a lot to turn his life around and was now a productive member of the community, the judge said.

She sentenced Millar to nine months' supervision with a special condition to undertake drug and alcohol along with anger counselling as directed.

"I wish you well," she said.