Phillip Rudd, who was born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis, pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault when he appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

The self-employed musician pleaded guilty after police reduced the charge from the more serious offence of male assaults female, which attracts a prison sentence of up to two years.

But Judge Robert Kerr discharged Witschke, 53, without conviction. His lawyer, Matthew Ward-Johnson, successfully argued a conviction would have a significant impact on his client's musical career and therefore outweigh the gravity of his offence - more on this story