Manly Wharf brawl: Police drop riot charge against 18yo in ‘pack’ of youths who attacked teenage boy

Police have dropped a rioting charge against an 18-year-old Sydney man who was involved in a wild mob attack on a teenage boy who was forced to seek refuge in a popular restaurant.

Police made multiple arrests after a brawl involving up to 40 teens broke out at Manly Wharf in January. Picture: Manly Observer

Police have dropped rioting charge against a young man from western Sydney who led a mob of 20 youths that assaulted a 13-year-old boy during a wild brawl at Manly ferry wharf.

Emillio Martinez, 18, of Bonnyrigg Heights, was at the front of the group who kicked and punched the boy as they pursued him on January 6, Manly Local Court was told on Wednesday.

Two members of the public, a man and woman, shielded the boy from the onslaught before they were all forced to take refuge in Fratelli Fresh Italian restaurant.

Diners had to brace the doors to stop the mob from breaking in, as the boy fled out a rear entrance.

The young victim was allegedly carrying a knife, according a police facts sheet tendered to court on Wednesday.

Emillio Martinez, 18, Bonnyrigg Heights, outside Manly Local Court. Picture: Manly Daily

Martinez was originally charged with one count each of riot and affray.

After negotiations between his Legal Aid lawyer and police, the riot charge was withdrawn and Martinez pleaded guilty to affray.

Police make arrests on Belgrave St, Manly, on January 6. Picture: Manly Observer

One of Martinez’s three co-accused, Royce Jensen, 21, of Wyong, was jailed over his role in the incident.

Jensen, who was convicted after pleading guilty to affray and common assault, was sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on March 25.

He was given a total sentence of two years’ jail, with a non-parole period of 14 months, for the Manly offences as well as a number of separate crimes, including assaulting a person on a Sydney train.

Two other youths are facing charges over the Manly brawl in the Children’s Court.

Martinez was with about 35 people who were “displaying anti-social behaviour” outside the Guzman Y Gomez fast food outlet at Manly Wharf at about 9.06pm, according to the facts sheet.

Emillio Martinez, 18, Bonnyrigg Heights, outside Manly Local Court. Picture: Manly Daily

Police stated that Martinez then began leading a group of young people toward a tall, “skinny” male who was walking toward The Corso.

When the male saw the mob, he started “running in an attempt to flee”.

Martinez and the others chased the male into the middle of the intersection at the corner of Belgrave St and East Esplanade.

“The accused believed this male had a knife in his possession,” police stated in the facts sheet.

“This group of persons, including (Martinez), has cut off the male’s movements and closed in on him, throwing a number of punches and kicks, causing him to fall over in the middle of the intersection.

“(Martinez), as part of the group, kicked the male twice. (He) kicked the hand of the male to dislodge the knife”.

Martinez will be sentenced in Manly court on July 9.