An 18-year-old said to have led a 35-person mob attack on a teenager at Manly Wharf has walked free from court, but with an 18-month Community Correction Order with community service.
Emillio Martinez left Manly Court yesterday, 9 July 2025, following what witnesses described as a “ridiculous” attack earlier this year. Police documents claimed the Bonnyrigg man kicked and punched the victim before leading a large mob of young people in pursuit of him.
Simon – who was present on the night of the incident and previously spoke to Manly Observer – leapt into the scene with his partner after seeing the group target a single teenage boy.
“My partner just sprinted. I mean, she didn’t say a word. She just sprinted over there, he would have got a proper kicking, actually, if she hadn’t done that, because they were all on him, and they were kicking him in the head at that point,” Simon told us.
“I just grabbed him and picked him up, put him in a headlock, and then they gave chase across the road. I put him in a headlock so they couldn’t keep punching and kicking his head.”
The three gained refuge in restaurant Fratelli Fresh and reportedly had to hold the doors shut to keep the pursuing mob from entering as the teenage victim snuck out back.
“We just turned up, and everyone’s screaming, including the kid I’ve got hold of, who’s screaming for his life. I just threw him in the restaurant, said, take care of him,” Simon continued, “So [my partner] took one door and I took the other, we couldn’t quite close the door for some reason, but we just held the attackers off who were trying to get in both doors.”
The pair said the mob swarmed them inflicting kicks and punches which resulted in bruising. A bottle was even reportedly thrown at Simon while he was shielding the boy who was “squealing like a banshee”.
Although the victim still remains unkown, the court was told he was also from Western Sydney and that he was known to Martinez.
Court documents revealed the a group of about 35 people were gathered in front of Guzman Y Gomez at the wharf before the victim broke off from the group and was pursued.
A knife was found on the ground during the incident and seized by police. Martinez said he believed it belonged to the victim.
Northern Beaches Police were originally criticised over the incident for arriving at the scene, disbanding the group but making no arrests nor taking statements.
After significant attention from an article in Manly Observer, police created Strike Force Crookhaven to further investigate “offences committed during a brawl at Manly.”
Following investigations, a 21-year-old was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at Downing Centre Local Court after pleading guilty to ‘Affray and Common assault’.
The Wyong man was a bystander but joined the melee for no known reason.
Martinez pleaded guilty for Affray. He has been placed on an 18 month Community Correction Orderand ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.
