An Alice Springs man who offered "white power" merchandise for sale has been ordered to complete 120 hours of community work.

The man cannot be named because the Alice Springs Magistrates Court has suppressed his identity.

He pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour for having t-shirts and hats made with the slogan "white power Alice Springs" and offering them for sale from his car last month.

The man, fearing attacks, then removed his personalised number plates and falsely reported them stolen.

For that he was fined $1,500 and ordered to pay $2,100 restitution for wasting police time.

Magistrate John Birch says the man received a lighter sentence for offensive behaviour because he had pleaded guilty and was obviously remorseful.