Bateau Bay Square: Zac Fitzsimmons, 18, pleads guilty to wielding hammer in wild shopping centre brawl

A teenager pulled a hammer from his hoodie and ran around wielding it during a wild brawl in front of terrified shoppers, a court has heard.

Zac Fitzsimmons pulled a hammer from his hoodie pocket before running around “involving himself” in the brawl, but he didn’t actually strike someone. (File image)

The first of four men charged over an alleged brawl in front of horrified customers at a busy Central Coast shopping mall has pleaded guilty.

Zac Fitzsimmons, 18, of Killarney Vale, appeared at Wyong Local Court on Wednesday, when he pleaded guilty to affray.

His conditional bail was continued until he reappears for sentence on September 29.

An agreed set of facts states Fitzsimmons and another man arrived in the rear car park of Bateau Bay Square shopping centre shortly before 7pm on July 11 in a white Mitsubishi Outlander.

They walked through the front doors, where they allegedly met brothers Cash and Beau Tolmie.

Fitzsimmons was one of four men charged over the alleged wild brawl at the Bateau Bay Square shopping centre. Picture: Supplied

Fitzsimmons is captured on CCTV footage wearing a grey hooded Jumper, with “Nautica” printed on the front, dark-coloured shorts and runners.

Once they arrived at the food court, they allegedly walked up to another group of young males loitering in the vicinity.

Cash Tolmie, 20, of Bateau Bay, was charged with affray after an alleged brawl at Bateau Bay Square shopping centre on July 11, 2024. Picture: Facebook

The facts state the two groups briefly exchanged words before an all-in brawl allegedly broke out.

“At the commencement of the brawl the accused pulls a hammer from the front pocket of his jumper, holding it in his right hand,” the facts state.

“For the next 60 seconds the accused proceeds to run around holding the hammer, involving himself in the fight, but does not use the hammer to strike any person. At the conclusion of the brawl, the accused runs through the shopping centre, discarding the hammer.”

Police reviewed the CCTV footage and identified Fitzsimmons before obtaining a warrant to search his address on July 23.

He was arrested in a bedroom and officers seized some of the clothing he was wearing during the brawl.

He was taken to Wyong Police Station, where he declined to be interviewed.

The Tolmie brothers Cash, 20, and Beau, 18, both of Bateau Bay, presented to Wyong Police Station on July 22, when they were each charged with affray.

Beau was granted police bail to face court next week while Cash faced court, where he was remanded in custody to appear on September 4.

Neither brother has entered a plea.

Another man, 18, has also been charged with affray and will face court next Wednesday.

Police will allege at the time of incident, there would have been about 50-80 people within the immediate vicinity of the food court, including staff and customers.