Two Dunedin men who attempted to stop a potential assailant by using a bat and coffee table have been told to act their age by a judge.
Ricky Steven Knox (50) and Michael Hessian (51) were sentenced to suspended sentences by Judge Michael Crosbie earlier this week.
They both appeared in court on charges of disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence.
Mr Knox's 23-year-old son went to his father's house and pulled a tyre iron out of his pants during a confrontation, the court heard.
Mr Hessian put a coffee table between himself and the young man, and Mr Knox grabbed a bat.
Although it was described in court as a baseball bat, Mr Knox told Judge Crosbie it was an ornamental bat from the wall.
Judge Crosbie said one of the men had nine pages of previous convictions, and the other had 14 pages.
"You can almost feel the weight of them when you pick them up.''
The moment the pair became aware Mr Knox's son had a tyre iron they should have called the police, Judge Crosbie said.
"It's time to start acting like 50 and 51-year-olds,'' he said.
Judge Crosbie said he accepted no violence was involved.
The men were both given nine-month suspended sentences.
