Losi Filipo in action for Wellington. He was sentenced on Wednesday to nine months' supervision for assaulting four people, including two women, and has been ordered to attend alcohol counselling, and a course on living without violence.

﻿Stomping on the victim's head was a "chilling act of violence", a judge has said while resentencing rugby player Losi Filipo.

Filipo's earlier discharge without conviction on assault charges was overturned after an appeal by police, and he re-appeared on the charges in the High Court at Wellington on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old former Wellington Lions player maintained his guilty plea and asked to be sentenced immediately.

KEVIN STENT/ FAIRFAX NZ A man wearing Losi Filipo's blue checked shirt leaving court after Wednesday's sentencing. Reports later claimed it was his brother Sam acting as a decoy.

He was sentenced to nine months' supervision for assaulting four people, including two women, and has been ordered to attend alcohol counselling, and a course on living without violence.

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Filipo did not front to media after the sentencing, instead sending his brother and co-offender Sam Filipo out to act as a decoy, One News reported.

MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Assault victim Greg Morgan, who was stomped in the head by Filipo in an attack in central Wellington in October last year.

It said a source close to the brothers said Sam donned the blue-checked shirt Losi had been wearing in court, allowing Losi to slip away undetected.

In court, Justice David Collins had said the stomping on one victim's head was "a chilling act of violence that could easily have led to his death".

In the attack in central Wellington in October last year, Filipo grabbed his first victim, Greg Morgan, by the collar, punched him towards his head, knocking him unconscious. While Morgan was on the ground, he stomped on him about four times, causing injuries including concussion, grazing and bruising.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Justice David Collins described the attack on Morgan as "a chilling act of violence that could easily have led to his death".

He also faced two charges of assaulting women, and a fourth of assault with intent to injure.

The judge took a starting point of two years' jail and discounted for Filipo's guilty plea, his youth, lack of previous convictions and the efforts he made after the incident with counselling, saving to pay reparation, doing community work and offering to apologise.

Filipo had suffered a significant setback to his goal to be a professional rugby player, the judge said.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Filipo's lawyer Noel Sainsbury said outside court that Filipo was "very sorry for what has happened and wants to now get on with his life".

"That dream is not at an end, if you can demonstrate you are worthy," he told Filipo.

Losi Filipo's lawyer, Noel Sainsbury, said outside court that Filipo would not be making a statement. "He is very sorry for what has happened and wants to now get on with his life."

Sainsbury said Filipo could not now play in Japan or Britain and, unless he could revive his career in New Zealand, it was difficult to see him getting into other markets.

GETTY IMAGES Losi Filipo, right, in action on the rugby field.

When Filipo first appeared on the charges in the district court in August this year, Judge Bruce Davidson granted him a discharge without conviction – a decision that caused a public outcry when details of the case emerged.

Wellington Rugby wrote a letter to the court about the consequences of a conviction for a young player, and Judge Davidson concluded Filipo was entitled to sentencing credit for his youth, remorse and conduct after the assault.

Justice Collins said: "When these factors are weighed in the balance, it is easy to understand why Judge Davidson took the compassionate approach that he did.

"As I have stressed, however, Judge Davidson erred by not taking into account relevant matters. As a result, he under-assessed the gravity of Losi Filipo's offending."

Morgan did not want to comment about the latest sentencing.