Dakia John Henare, 29, pleaded guilty to the charge in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a $5000 fine.
The court heard that on January 29, the defendant was at Mosgiel’s pool, Te Puna o Whakaehu.
He walked in wearing a dark coloured coat over a leather vest with red trim, the court heard.
After his swim, Henare dried himself poolside and put on his vest, which had a patch on the chest area with "Mongrel Mob, Top Rocker" around a bulldog.
The back of the vest had a bulldog in the centre and the words "Mongrel Mob" above it and "Top Rocker" below it.
At the time, members of the public were at the pool.
Henare made a gesture and interacted with two pool users, court documents said.
Later, the defendant walked around the pool, through the foyer and left without incident.
Henare admitted his offending to police, but said in his eyes, it was not illegal.
Judge Deidre Orchard sentenced Henare to 40 hours’ community work.
