Possession of offensive weapon

Phillip Awa-Tea Tapa received a 12-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to having an offensive weapon.

Police wouldn't have even known Phillip Awa-Tea Tapa had assaulted another Masterton man had he not made a complaint about the man who had "brutally" assaulted him.

Before Judge Barbara Morris recently, Tapa pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, namely a length of four by four timber.

Police had previously reduced the charge from assault with a weapon to the lesser charge.

Prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said the victim had "come off worse" when Tapa went to the victim demanding money he was owed.

Tapa was hospitalised with broken ribs and then made a complaint to police about being assaulted.

Judge Morris told Tapa it wasn't a good idea to take the weapon with him.

"You can never predict what other people will do," she said.

She said Tapa had been a "law-abiding citizen" for many years. His last conviction was 12 years ago.

"This was out of character," she said.

Judge Morris sentenced Tapa to a 12-month suspended sentence.