Arabic version: سجن متهم في شغب مايفيلد بسبب مخالفات دراجات ترابية

According to ABC News, Mark Distefano, 25, has been sentenced to a maximum of 12 months in prison, with a non-parole period of seven months, over his role in a riot that caused unrest in suburban Newcastle. The sentence was backdated to his arrest in June, making him eligible for parole in mid-January.

About 200 people had gathered at a Mayfield park in June for a merchandise and cash giveaway event for clothing brand Bad Apples. Police alleged that between 30 and 40 riders then took over surrounding streets and parkland on unregistered trail bikes, taunting police and damaging the park. Riders were seen performing wheelies and burnouts before moving onto nearby streets.

Distefano was among the first people arrested and pleaded guilty in July to seven offences, including riot. Police facts tendered to the court said he was seen deliberately completing a burnout and spinning his back wheel, causing significant damage to parkland. The overall damage was estimated at about $5,000.

Police alleged Distefano and other riders behaved aggressively towards officers and members of the public. Their actions and dangerous driving were described in police facts as the root cause of a brawl in which officers deployed capsicum spray. The defence said Distefano may have been an instigator by riding his motorbike but did not participate in violence.

After the incident, PolAir tracked Distefano for 13 kilometres through Newcastle, where he ran multiple red lights and rode on the wrong side of the road, forcing oncoming traffic to stop. He did not have a valid rider’s or motor vehicle licence. Judge Georgina Darcy also suspended his driver’s licence for a year. Eight other alleged offenders remain before the courts.