A Nelson man who beat his adopted child with a large piece of plastic pipe told police it was "considerably less" punishment than what he received when he was at school.
The 45-year-old, who has name suppression, admitted assaulting a child.
The Nelson District Court heard that on February 20, he
hit the boy six times across the buttocks with a 1m length of black alkathene pipe, causing bruising and welts.
The man told police he hit the child not out of anger, but as punishment for lying over money.
Teachers at the boy's school were suspicious because he and his brother, both under 12, each had $20.
The school advised their parents, and when the children returned home that afternoon, the defendant questioned them about the money.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Rex Morris said the explanation given by one of the youngsters differed to that given to the school. The man decided to punish him.
It was later established that a different child stole the money from the boys' parents.
Judge John Walker remanded the man until May 13 for parental counselling.
- NZPA
