An elderly Mamaku man offered diversion on a firearms charge has been under "enormous strain" for many months, according to his lawyer.
Max Winders, 77, had previously denied a charge of leaving a loaded firearm in circumstances as to endanger the life of others, namely under a bed with a bullet in its chamber, between March 28 and April 4 this year.
A defended hearing was scheduled to take place in the Rotorua District Court today.
Instead police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Coleman told the court police had offered Winders diversion, which meant he would avoid a criminal conviction.
On that basis Winders' vacated his earlier not guilty plea and replaced it with an intimated guilty plea.