A Castlecliff man's collection of knives and a baseball bat were no match for pepper spray when he became aggressive with police.
Louis Delves learned as much on August 7 when police turned up to a domestic incident on his Bamber St property and he began waving a bat and butcher's knife at them and yelling.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Hickey said Delves threw the knife behind him but continued waving the bat and carried on yelling, leaving officers no choice but to spray him to make their arrest.
When they searched Delves, he was found to have three more knives in his pocket.
Defence lawyer Jamie Waugh said Delves had been suffering from drug and alcohol issues but had sought help.
He had a goal to join the army and wanted to get on with his life, Mr Waugh said.
"He's at home doing nothing without having anywhere to go."
He described the offending as a "wake-up call" for Delves.
Judge Dugald Matheson said Delves was "a bit bored" and "lost it". He was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 40 hours' community work. The knives were ordered to be destroyed.