'Sword act intended to scare men'

A MAN brandished a samurai sword with the intention of scaring off some people trying to break into his car.

David Peter Wiseman, 32, saw two males next to his car in Basin Pocket so retrieved the sword, which had an 80cm blade, from his house and planned to scare the men away.

Wiseman was stopped by police before he got that chance.

Ipswich Magistrates Court was told officers intercepted Wiseman about 70m away from his home and were unable to find the alleged car robbers.

Wiseman was charged with possessing a knife in a public place and pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates Court yesterday.

Wiseman's lawyer told the court there was no suggestion his client had ever intended to hurt anyone.

The court heard Wiseman was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence, which occurred on November 5.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess told Wiseman it was never a good idea to resort to violence.

Ms Sturgess extended the operational period of his suspended sentence for an extra six months. Wiseman was also sentenced to 12 months probation and the sword was forfeited.