A man found heading towards his ex-partner's house with a weapon told police he wanted to see if any other men had been visiting her.
Michael Alexander O'Leary drove to Gilberd St about 1am on February 24 and hid his vehicle between some nearby bushes, police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Butler said.
O'Leary was walking towards his ex-partner's house when he was stopped by passing police, who were investigating a suspicious fire in the area.
He told police he had walked from Whanganui East, Mr Butler told the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.
However, O'Leary's vehicle was discovered a short time later, and it was found he was also carrying a cut-down wooden axe handle, which he initially told police he was carrying for protection.