Despite making changes to his lifestyle - including giving up alcohol and attending church - a Feilding man has been sentenced to a short prison term for possessing a machete.

On May 18 he was on Bailey St, Feilding, when he became a public nuisance; “rowing, ranting and shouting at the police,” Judge Gregory Ross told the Feilding District Court yesterday.

Corry Douglas Steven Scotson, 32, unemployed, had spent the afternoon drinking and had with him two dogs that had to be tied up before police could deal with him.

In his backpack they found a machete, which Scotson had earlier told a court was for a pig-hunting trip he was about to embark on.

But on the day in question he said it was for self-defence.

Because he had a recent similar conviction, Scotson was facing an automatic jail term.

Defence lawyer Mike Ryan told the court of changes Scotson was making to his life, including giving up drinking and joining a church.

That wasn't enough to convince Judge Ross that Scotson should avoid jail, particularly given his lengthy list of convictions.

The judge was sceptical about Scotson's attempts to change.

“There must have been one, if not two, generations of police constables who have cut their teeth on you as a public nuisance in that town,” Judge Ross told him.

“You claimed that [police] are hassling you and they rarked you up.

"You can expect attention . . . The nuisance you have provided to police and the people of Feilding over the years cannot be tolerated.”

On one charge each of possessing a weapon and disorderly behaviour, Scotson was jailed for 28 days.

- © Fairfax NZ News