Two former Bandidos outlaw motorbike club members have faced Orange Local Court for involvement in an affray targeting a member of a social motorbike club.
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Former Central West Chapter sergeant of arms James Stuart Larnach, 27, of Kenna Street, and secretary-treasurer Anthony William Noel Coyte, 43, of Kurim Avenue, were sentenced together for the January 11, 2020, affray.
According to police, both men were active members of the club when a conflict arose between the Central West Chapter of the Bandidos and a social motorcycle club, the Grudge Bringers, in 2019.
The conflict arose about Grudge Bringers wearing patches on their vests that they said resembled those worn by outlaw motorcycle clubs.
As a result, Bandidos president Shane De Britt directed members to strip the Grudge Bringers of their patches.
On January 11, Coyte and Larnach were part of a group of five Central West Bandidos members who targeted a Grudge Bringer member at his job in Orange.
Members of the group were captured on CCTV in the vicinity of the victim's workplace at 8.30pm.
The victim and a female colleague arrived at work at 8.26pm and soon afterwards the woman saw two men hanging around near her car. Fearing they were going to break into the vehicle she told the victim who went outside to check on the vehicle.
However, Coyte and three other bikies walked towards them when they went outside and the victim told his colleague to go back inside.
The men walked past the woman and one of the men walked up to the victim and said, "give me your colours".
However, when the victim said "I don't have it" the same man said "c'mon [victim] give me your colours, Grudge Bringers are no more".
When the victim again said he did not have his vest with him the same man punched the victim once in the head.
One of the other men said "quick let's get him," but the victim ran away. Coyte and the three other men chased him but the victim successfully escaped.
Larnach acted as a look-out during the affray and at 10.27pm he sent an encrypted message to a senior member about the assault and that they were unable to take the vest.
Parts of the incident were captured on CCTV and the victim and his colleague provided statements to police who photographed the victim's head injury.
The victim received a cut to the left side of his head and left earlobe as a result of the assault.
The man who hit the victim was not sentenced at the same time as Coyte or Larnach who have both left the club and have little or no criminal record.
Larnach had no criminal record at the time and is employed, Coyte is on a disability pension and has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Solicitor Mason Manwaring said Coyte had a limited criminal record that was not relevant to the affray charge.
"Both gentlemen left the club following this incident," Mr Manwaring said.
Magistrate David Day gave both men identical sentences of an 18-month community correction orders and $110 fines. He said there was a low risk of either man re-offending.