Court tells 52-year-old involved in rock-fight to 'grow up'

A MIDDLE-AGED man who was involved in a rock-throwing argument at a Riverview shop has been fined and told to "grow up".

A MIDDLE-AGED man who was involved in a rock- throwing argument at a Riverview shop has been fined and told to "grow up".

Nathan Charles Masso, 52, yesterday pleaded guilty at the Ipswich Magistrates Court to creating a public nuisance.

The court heard on January 31 police were called to a disturbance at a pharmacy.

Police were given the description of a man matching Masso, who staff said had run into the store with another man yelling and screaming.

Outside the store the court heard the two men threw rocks at each other and loudly argued. Defence lawyer Trevor Hoskin said Masso and the other men were friends and had known each other "forever."

Mr Hoskin said Masso was extremely apologetic and wanted to apologise to the court for his actions.

The court heard Masso immediately apologised to police when he was arrested and, inside the court room he repeatedly told Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin he was sorry. However, Mr McLaughlin said Masso's actions were those of a "drunken teenager", not a man in his fifties who told the court he didn't drink.

"I don't get all that surprised when young fellas (act like this). You're in your fifties!" Mr McLaughlin said.

"Having a knife, throwing rocks, yelling and screaming; you've been doing this sort of thing for years. It's time you grew up." Masso was ordered to pay a $400 fine.

Originally published as Court tells 52-year-old involved in rock-fight to 'grow up'