No need for a jailbreak! Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd sentenced to eight months HOME detention for threatening to kill a former employee and drug possession

• Drummer Phil Rudd was sentenced to eight months of home detention
• Legendary musician appeared in Tauranga District Court in New Zealand
• The 60-year-old pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a former employee
• Former member of band AC/DC was also up on drug possession charges 
• He admitted to telling ex-employee he wanted to kill him and his daughter

By Louise Cheer and Danielle Gusmaroli for Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press

Published: 17:57 EST, 8 July 2015 | Updated: 05:17 EST, 9 July 2015

Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has escaped jail and instead has been sentenced to eight months' home detention for threatening to kill and drug charges.

The 60-year-old, who stood motionless in the dock, did not give away any of his feelings as Judge Thomas Ingram read out his sentence after he was denied a discharge without conviction, the New Zealand Herald reported. 

Rudd arrived outside Tauranga District Court - on New Zealand's North Island - looking a little less animated than his usual colourful self, with a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

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Phil Rudd will face sentencing over threatening to kill and drug charges in a New Zealand court on Thursday

The 60-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges in April after the court heard he had told an acquaintance he was seeking to have a former employee 'taken out'

Phil Rudd swears at media outside court after sentencing

Rudd looked stoney-faced and stressed as he was flanked by his family at Tauranga District Court - on New Zealand's North Island - on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to the charge in April.

But before heading inside, the 60-year-old - who neatly dressed in a navy, pinstriped blazer, a white button-up shirt and jeans - gave the crowd outside a quick thumbs up.

Judge Ingram told Rudd he would end up behind bars if he breached any of the conditions of his sentence, which includes 24-hour monitoring at his waterfront home, stuff.co.nz reported.

'I stone cold guarantee that's where you'll end up. I'm not your headmaster, I'm not your father, I'm a judge,' Judge Ingram said. 

Rudd's lawyers argued Rudd would lose millions of dollars worth of income if he was convicted as he would not be allowed into particular countries with a conviction.

But Judge Ingram's reply was simply: 'Queen replaced Freddie Mercury.'  

Phil Rudd leaves court after being sentenced to eight months home detention 

Rudd was driven away by after being sentenced on drugs and threaten to kill charges 

The court has heard the veteran musician had threatened to kill a former employee and his daughter

The drummer's lawyer said he would be applying for a discharge without conviction. Here Rudd (centre) is seen arriving with his children on Thursday

The 60-year-old Australian, who has lived in Tauranga for more than 30 years, hit the headlines last November when he appeared in court accused of attempting to hire a hitman to kill two people

Lately Rudd, who hails from Australia but now lives in Tauranga on the North Island, has been attracting more media attention for his colourful behaviour than his musical prowess.

Earlier this year, the court heard the musician had told an acquaintance he was seeking to have a former employee 'taken out'.

He also told the same acquaintance he would give him $200,000, a motorcycle, a car or a house in a second phone call, court documents revealed. 

Police say Rudd called the former employee and threatened to kill both him and his daughter. 

The dispute came after his first solo album Head Job flopped and had been replaced by the band's former drummer, Chris Slade.

The musician was arrested in November and charged over an incident in September.

The drug charges were laid after police executed a search warrant at Rudd's home on November 6.

Police say Rudd had 0.71g of methamphetamine and 130g of cannabis in his possession.

Rudd's lawyer Craig Tuck has previously said he would be applying for a discharge without conviction. 

In May, the legendary rocker - who once described himself as 'the best live drummer in the world' - revealed he has been dropped last year by AC/DC after his arrest.

He launched a heart-felt plea with his bandmates to take him back for the anniversary world tour. 

Lately Rudd has been gaining more media attention for his off-stage antics than his musical prowess 

Rudd was a drummer for legendary Australia rock band, AC/DC. Pictured above the band is rehearsing for the Grammy's at Staples Centre in Los Angeles

Phil Rudd from ACDC talks about rejoining the band

Opening up about his woes, Rudd told A Current Affair: 'I wrote them a letter but I've had no contact from anybody,' adding he was 'disappointed' not to be touring with them now. 

Speaking from his waterside home in Tauranga, he added: 'I do actually [wish] I was [on tour]. I'm fit and ready and ready to go. I'm hoping I'll be discharged... We all make mistakes.'

He said he hoped guitarist Angus Young would realise he had seen the error of his ways and would agree to take him back for the New Zealand and Australian leg of the tour which kicks off in Sydney in November. 

'It's up to Angus, not me...if Angus is cool,' Rudd said.

For his part, Angus released a statement in November last year saying: 'Phil created his own situation. 

'It's a hard thing to say about the guy. He's a great drummer, and he's done a lot of stuff for us. But he seems to have let himself go. He's not the Phil we've known from the past.'

The members have changed a number of times since the band was first formed 42 years ago by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014

Band members from left: Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Cliff Williams pose in 2000 at the Rock Walk handprint ceremony at the Guitar Center in Hollywood

Australia's biggest band are playing to stadium crowds around the world with their Rock Or Bust world tour. 

The long-time hard rockers will then tour Wellington and Auckland in December.

The band last toured Australia and New Zealand in 2010, when it sold 750,000 tickets.

The members have changed a number of times since the band was first formed 42 years ago.

The line-up for the upcoming tour includes Cliff Williams, Angus Young and Brian Johnson, with Chris Slade replacing Rudd. 

Stevie Young is standing in for Malcolm Young, his uncle, who is suffering from dementia.

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