Darlinghurst: Veterans Charles Mark Cameron, Craig Jason Elston sentenced for displaying Nazi flag near Sydney Jewish Museum

Two military veterans who displayed a Nazi flag at a pub just 90m away from the Sydney Jewish Museum have escaped a conviction in court. Here’s what happened as the pair admit to a “big mistake”.

A Darlo Bar staff member kicked both the men out after the offending. Picture: Tim Hunter.

A war veteran busted posing with a Nazi flag while his friend snapped a photo just 90m away from the Sydney Jewish Museum has escaped a conviction in court, labelling his actions “a big mistake”.

Craig Jason Elston, from Rushcutters Bay, and Charles Mark Cameron, from Elizabeth Bay – also a military veteran – faced Downing Local Court from custody on Friday where they both pleaded guilty to one charge each of knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse.

The pair have spent the last 14 days in custody on remand, with their arrests at a time of heightened awareness over anti-Semitism and a rise in attacks at Jewish sites.

Elston and Cameron were both sentenced to a six-month conditional release order, without a conviction, after the court heard the flag was war memorabilia with the pair holding no anti-Semitic views.

The offending happened just 90m away from the Sydney Jewish Museum. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The court was shown a video of Elston, 51, and Cameron, 44, sitting at an outdoor table at the Darlo Bar, Darlinghurst about 5pm on February 6.

Elston can be seen taking a German Nazi Swastika flag out of a bag and displaying it for Cameron to see. The older man then passed the younger man his phone for a photo, as Elston posed with the flag before putting it away.

Police arrested the men shortly after. Picture: Tom Parrish

The pair were asked to leave the venue and both men were arrested.

Court documents state Elston told officers he was “excited about receiving the flag” and collects war memorabilia.

“I have model soldiers for both sides of the war, I have no anti-Semitic feelings,” he said. “I forgot my surroundings, I have made a big mistake.”

Police prosecutor David Langton told the court anti-Semitic offending seemed to be on the rise in NSW and argued the offending occurred within 90m of the museum, which housed a holocaust exhibit.

Both men were sentenced at Downing Centre Local Court. Picture: Nikki Short

Mr Langton said there was no malicious intent in the display and the pair had been in custody for two weeks. He added Elston had fought in the war and police had found war memorabilia at his house.

Mr Langton said Cameron encouraged Elston to pose with the flag, but the court must consider both men’s previously clean criminal history.

Elston’s lawyer Paul Hardin said his client was planning to send the flag to the men’s mutual friend overseas, who is a collector of memorabilia.

“No one holds anti-Semitic views,” he argued. “It was an error of judgement which lasted no longer than 30 seconds.”

Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson said there had been significant issues in the community including Nazi symbols being painted onto buildings.

Ms Atkinson said in a previous unrelated case, she had watched footage of people walking outside the museum “doing worse offending”.

“I can say what I have viewed today is not as objectively serious,” she said,

“It was very foolish, people are allowed to collect military memorabilia, but you have to be sensible.”

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