A man who armed himself with a pipe after his opponent brought a knife to the confrontation in a car park has been given a custodial sentence in Orange Local Court.
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According to police there were already long-standing issues between Dean Edward Taylor, 42, of Kurim Avenue, and a co-accused man before they got into a fight in the underground car park at Orange City Centre on November 26, 2019.
The other man is not named because he is yet to be sentenced.
Police said both men saw each other about 10am when they visited the Kite Street Community Health Centre, where Taylor went for methadone treatment, and Taylor followed the other man into the underground car park.
The men started yelling at each other in the car park and the other man armed himself with a butcher's knife that had a 20-centimetre-long blade.
In response Taylor armed himself with a 30-centimetre-long pole.
It was reported that the other man was holding the knife when he moved towards Taylor who swung the pole at him. The fight continued for about a minute while shoppers were in the area.
Taylor left the car park and went to Orange Police Station and said he was attacked with a knife and went to the police for protection.
The other man also went to the police station and the two men again started yelling at each other until police separated them.
According to police, the dispute started because Taylor objected to the the other man's behaviour towards one of Taylor's family members.
Solicitor Mason Manwaring said Taylor was attacked with the knife before he armed himself with the pole and he suggested Taylor could receive a community-based sentence by way of an intensive correction order.
"He maintained he was reacting but if he didn't go there in the first place this wouldn't have happened," Mr Manwaring said.
"His criminal history is what it is, it doesn't entitle him to leniency."
Magistrate David Day said Taylor was already subject to an ICO for violence, that expired in May this year.
"I accept Mr Taylor is not the instigator of this public violence against the whole community," Mr Day said.
Mr Day said Taylor had reasonable prospects of rehabilitation and gave him a 15-month ICO with rehabilitation and treatment, and he will be subject to electronic monitoring.
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