Marijan Barac, 42, was suffering mental health problems and relapsed into drinking on the night of the stand-off with police earlier this year, the ACT Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.

He had been looking at photos of his deceased father, listening to Croatian songs and drinking heavily.

The relapse followed a detox and 12 months sober, the court heard.

Police were called to his Evatt home in response to concerns of members of the public.

Barac walked out of the house towards police with a kitchen knife and a ‘‘replica firearm’’, fashioned from cardboard rolls painted black, and shaped to look like a gun.

The officers were forced to retreat, demanding he drop the weapons.

Police eventually subdued the man and arrested him, charging him with two counts of possessing an offensive weapon with intent.

He was sentenced by Magistrate Peter Morrison on Wednesday for the crimes, after entering early guilty pleas.

Barac was placed on an 18-month good behaviour order.

The court took into account his mental health issues, that he’d shown some insight into his condition and his compliance with treatment while on bail.

Mr Morrison said he was optimistic for Barac’s prospects of rehabilitation, which lessened the future risk to public safety.

But Barac was warned that if he breached his good behaviour order, it might be decided that the risk to public safety overrode his personal circumstances, meaning he could be re-sentenced to a term of imprisonment.