A man charged over a highly public brawl in the Nowra CBD over the busy Christmas holiday period where a machete and metal pole were allegedly produced has avoided a jail sentence.
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Worrigee man, Jeremy James McKenzie, 24, faced 14 charges in Nowra Local Court on December 2, over a number of different incidents.
Just after midday on January 11 this year, police were called to the car park of the Stockland Shopping Centre in Nowra after reports of a fight between two men, who it was believed were armed with knives.
Police were told the fight was in full view of members of the public including children. The two men were allegedly fighting with large weapons, possibly including a machete.
CCTV images showed McKenzie and another man later identified as Kyle Knopp, fighting in the car park.
Police said the footage showed the two men remove items from a car parked in the area.
It was alleged at the time Knopp had a large knife or machete and McKenzie a metal pole.
Both were seen to take swings at each other with the alleged weapons, while there was also verbal threats.
Police said the incident carried on long enough and was loud enough to attract considerable public attention, with the shopping centre busy with holiday makers.
When police arrived officers were told the men had left the area, but Knopp had run across the Princes Highway towards Junction Street.
He was arrested a short time later by a number of officers at the pedestrian crossing at the rear of the Coles car park at the Nowra Mall.
When interviewed Knopp allegedly told police he believed he had been involved in the altercation with a man named Jeremy Usher, who police discovered is also known as Jeremy McKenzie.
It was alleged McKenzie was also involved in a break in at an Illaroo Road address at Cambewarra later in the day, where along with another person he gained entry to a detached garage at the property but was disturbed by the owners as they were leaving.
After investigations McKenzie was later arrested by police.
He was charged with having a knife in a public place, possession or use of a prohibited weapon, possessing a prohibited drug, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, and break and enter with intent.
He also faced multiple driving charges from previous alleged offences, including driving while his licence was suspended, driving while disqualified and failing to appear in court.
Nowra Magistrate Gabriel Fleming placed McKenzie on a 10-month intensive correction order, meaning he can serve his sentence within the community rather than in jail.
She also further disqualified him from driving for 12 months from December 2, 2019.
Knopp, 26, of Nowra, pleaded guilty to affray and carrying a cutting weapon upon arrest and was fined $600 in Nowra Local Court in September by Magistrate Walker.
Read more: Crime/Court