Wellington, Nov 19 NZPA - A samurai sword attack victim has been sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision for being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Matthew James Durham, 21, whose hand was severed in the May attack, had earlier pleaded guilty to being in possession of a crowbar.

He was sentenced by Judge Gregory Ross in Palmerston North District Court yesterday, The Manawatu Standard reported.

Police said Durham had been drinking among a group of about 40 young people at a Linton Street party.

He was "verbally and racially abusive" toward a large group of Maori males nearby.

Flanked by his associates, and armed with a 700mm crowbar, Durham approached the group.

When he raised the weapon at them, a 16-year-old youth hit him with a samurai sword in retaliation -- severing his hand.

Durham's hand was later successfully reattached by surgeons at Hutt Hospital.

The teen, who cannot be named under Youth Court restrictions, admitted attacking him with the sword and will also be intensely monitored for the next 12 months.

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