Internet troll Tristan Barker counselled before sentencing over assault of David Eccleston Tristan Barker has pleaded guilty to assault after this incident involving Seven reporter David Eccleston. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Supplied A NEW Zealand teenage internet troll will undertake an anger management course before being sentenced for assaulting an Australian television journalist. Tristan Barker, son of former Split Enz drummer Michael Barker, will voluntarily attend the private course before he is sentenced on September 9. Barker, 18, had been due to be sentenced in Rotorua District Court today after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Seven Network's Today Tonight reporter David Eccleston. The assault took place in Rotorua in March during an interview that focused on Barker's internet trolling, which took place when he was living in Australia. Judge Ian Thomas adjourned the case to allow Barker to complete the course. Barker is seeking to be discharged without a conviction. Barker's Twitter profile says he is: "A young man with a computer and a guitar, described by authorities and newspapers as a blight on society." He has 16,608 Twitter followers and 260,000 "likes" on Facebook.