KEY POINTS:
A man struck his son on the leg with a broom handle during a row, Hastings District Court was told today.
Michael Anderson, 48, said he "just snapped" during an argument.
Anderson, of Flaxmere, Hastings, was convicted and discharged on charges of assault with a blunt instrument and assault and placed under supervision for nine months.
He had earlier admitted both charges.
Anderson's lawyer, Brian Webby, said the assaults on April 27 this year had come at a time when his client was under severe stress.
His father was critically ill and the victim, his 13-year-old son, had been involved in a number of incidents during the previous five weeks.
The youth had been kicked out of two schools, there had been 13 incidents of wagging school and one involving drugs. The pair had been arguing about the boy's wagging when the assaults took place.
His client was remorseful for what happened and Mr Webby noted that the injuries were not serious. The broom-handle assault had left a welt on his leg but there were no long-term effects.
"The defendant didn't know what to do with his son. He just snapped," Mr Webby said.
While a conviction might be sufficient penalty, a pre-sentencing report had suggested he undertake an anger-management course.
Judge Ian Thomas said the use of the broom handle was totally unacceptable and while Anderson was under stress and angry with his son wagging and using solvents, the assaults could not be justified.
"It wasn't reasonable force either," he said.
- NZPA
