Mayfield rioter sentenced to 12 months in jail after dirt bike chaos

A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 months in jail for his role in a riot that caused chaos in a suburban Newcastle park earlier this year.

Mark Distefano was among those who attended a merchandise and cash giveaway event for a clothing brand in Mayfield in June, which quickly descended into chaos.

Police alleged that between 30 and 40 riders took over surrounding streets and parkland on unregistered trail bikes, taunting police and tearing up the park.

Distefano was charged with a total of seven offences, including riot, and pleaded guilty in July.

According to police facts tendered to the court, Distefano was seen "deliberately completing a burnout" and spinning his back wheel, causing significant damage to the parkland.

The total damage to the parkland is estimated to cost about $5,000.

It was alleged that Distefano, along with a group of other riders, engaged in aggressive behaviour towards police and members of the public.

The police facts say the riders' aggressive actions and dangerous driving were the "root cause" of a brawl that required police to deploy capsicum spray.

Distefano's lawyer told the court his client's pleas were "pleas of convenience" and he showed "no insight or remorse" for the offending.

The lawyer said Distefano was "staring down the barrel" of a lengthy prison sentence and sought a 25 per cent sentence reduction for his early guilty pleas, which was granted.

During sentencing, Judge Georgina Darcy noted the rarity of riot charges being brought before the local court, with only 44 cases dealt with in the past four years.

"In eight years on the bench I don't think I've ever sentenced anyone for riot before," Judge Darcy told the courtroom.

Judge Darcy noted Distefano's lengthy criminal history and told the court he had been assessed as having a medium to high risk of reoffending.

"Your record does not assist you, even at your relatively young age it runs for nearly 50 pages," she said.

"Certainly not a good criminal history."

Distefano's 12-month prison sentence was backdated to his arrest in June, meaning he would be eligible for parole in mid-January.

His driver's licence was also suspended for a year.

Eight other alleged offenders remain before the courts.