Wellington, March 18 NZPA - 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.