A 65-year-old man who admitted lying to the court in order to avoid seizure of $190,000 worth of commercial woodworking machinery, received a home detention sentence, despite protests from police.

Police prosecutor David Pawson called for a jail sentence for Karl Dean Zajonskowski, unemployed of Mount Maunganui, saying it's required as a deterrent and a denunciation, to send a message to Zajonskowski and others that they cannot mislead the court.

Zajonskowski appeared for sentence in Tauranga District Court this week on a single charge of making a false statement, which he admitted during a District Court judge alone hearing. The charge carries a three year jail sentence.

David says Zajonskowski undermined himself while giving evidence to the point where he had no choice but to plead guilty, and that he still had no insight into his offending.

In 2012, Zajonskowski ran up bills of more than $368,000 setting up a joinery manufacturing business DNA Modular Creations in Mount Maunganui.

Police say he didn't pay the supplier of the machinery Philbro Holdings Ltd, and he didn't pay North Sawn Treatment Ltd the lease on the building.

A year later when the building owners started proceedings to seize machinery in lieu of rent, Zajonskowski swore a High Court affidavit stating the machinery was his personal property and in his possession for some time.

When Justice Heath discovered the statement was false, Zajonskowski blamed his lawyer. He then prevented his lawyer from giving evidence, says David. Zajonskowski lied to the High Court and he lied to the District Court

'And he still doesn't think he's done anything wrong.”

When Judge Glen Marshall asked what the loss was and who the victim was, the case was stood down for discussion.

While it was said the amount owed on machinery was $197,800, the actual loss was $29,000 in arrears on rent, plus storage, the prosecution said.

Judge Marshall accepted there was no loss in the end, but misleading a Court, particularly the High court was a serious matter.

He sentenced Zajonskowski to four months home detention and 200 hours of community service.