A New Plymouth man who hit his son with an alkathene pipe,
claiming he was following the Bible's teachings has avoided
jail after admitting he was wrong.
The man, who has permanent name suppression, had earlier
pleaded guilty in the New Plymouth District Court to
assaulting his school-aged son with the pipe and two charges
of assaulting the boy in November and December last year, the
Taranaki Daily News reported.
When he appeared for sentencing on February 12, Judge Allan
Roberts told him he would likely go to jail if he did not
mend his ways.
The sentencing was postponed after his lawyer argued that the
man -- described by the newspaper as "elderly" -- had indeed
changed.
The man's lawyer yesterday told the court his client accepted
his actions were illegal and unacceptable.
He was attending parenting sessions and had taken part in a
family group conference with Child, Youth and Family.
He was sentenced to nine months' supervision and ordered to
attend and complete anger management and parenting courses.
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