Kyle Berryman, 20, of Carcoar Road, Spring Hill, was fined $1200 for his part in the affray, which also involved two other adults, one of whom threatened victims with a “pig-sticking” knife, and a 17-year-old.

According to police facts, some of which Berryman disputes, he and his co-offenders were in Berryman’s car, which was stopped at traffic lights in Summer Street and were waiting to turn right into Lords Place when a group of pedestrians crossed in front of them.

Although the pedestrians had a green light, the driver of Berryman’s car revved the engine and a verbal confrontation took place between the two groups before the pedestrians continued crossing the road and begand walking west up Summer Street.

The car turned right into Lords Place but did a u-turn back onto Summer Street. The occupants got out to confront the pedestrians and, along with punching them, one of Berryman’s friends produced the knife.

As a result, security from a nearby licensed premises ushered the pedestrians and other bystanders inside and Berryman punched the locked door.

It was also claimed that he threw the knife under a parked car when police arrived.

Berryman was represented in Orange Local Court on Monday by solicitor Nidal Abdi, who said these were the first offences on his client’s record.

Mr Abdi said his client was not in agreement with all the police facts but because his memory was affected by excessive alcohol consumption he would plead guilty. 

“He did have quite a lot to drink and he was drinking spirits and not beer and that’s not something he would usually do,” Mr Abdi said.

“Certainly affrays are quite serious but in my submission this doesn’t cross the section five threshold [which, leads to offenders being sent to jail].” 

Mr Abdi also said a pre-sentence report that was given to magistrate Terry Lucas also presented Berryman as being of good character and with a good work ethic.

“The facts refer to [one of the co-accused] as having a pig-sticking knife and your actions with the knife were quite dangerous,” Mr Lucas said.

“If you were to repeat this behaviour a jail sentence would be most likely.”