Steven Barry Clarke appeared in Bega District Court on Wednesday, June 17 where he confirmed his guilty plea to one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He has spent almost 12 months in custody after the incident with bail refused, but on Wednesday NSW District Court Judge Andrew Colefax assured the visibly-anxious 53-year-old that when it came to sentencing he would not be returned to jail.

Judge Colefax said on June 20, 2018, Clarke had an argument with his brother in the Batehaven house they shared together, after which his brother went to the nearby home of a mutual friend.

Later, Clarke also went to the friend's house and used a metal baseball bat to hit his friend on the hip before the two struggled until Clarke's brother pulled them apart.

The victim, aged in his mid-50s, suffered bruising, swelling and difficulty walking and was taken to hospital, while Clarke was later arrested by police.

"It's obvious, Mr Clarke, using a baseball bat in the way that you did could have had very, very disastrous consequences for everybody," Judge Colefax said.

"You may have killed him, you may have caused him long-term injuries.

"Fortunately that did not happen."

Judge Colefax said Clarke was diagnosed with schizophrenia and called the move by a medical professional to cancel the medication for his condition before the assault an "unfortunate decision".

He said the accused responded well to medication, which was fortunate for him as many with schizophrenia do not respond well, and said on the day of the attack he must have been having a psychotic episode as a consequence of no longer taking his medications.

"While what you did was serious, I understand the circumstances it came about," the judge told Clarke.

While the maximum penalty for the charge was five years' imprisonment, Judge Colefax took into account the near 12 months Clarke had already served without bail and he was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order.

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