Two exes have been ordered to be of good behaviour after they were involved in a brawl outside a Wollongong methadone clinic.
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Scott Welland, 50, and Sandra Ponfield, 49, appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Monday to be sentenced for a heated argument last year.
Documents tendered to court said Scott Welland was in a relationship with Sheree Field at the time.
He was the former partner of Sandra Ponfield and they have three children together.
Ponfield was previously in a relationship with the victim, Paul Cairney and are still friends.
The four people were at the Denison Methadone Clinic shortly before 7.30am on September 29 when a Welland started a quarrel with Cairney.
Welland placed his forehead on the nose of Cairney and said, "have you got something to say to me dog".
Cairney felt scared and started to tremble, fearing he would be headbutted, before Ponfield pushed Welland away.
Cairney said, "don't call me a dog man, I'm not a dog" before Welland challenged him to go outside to "have a go".
Security guards tried to separate Ponfield and Welland as Cairney told him to leave because he was worried he would be kicked off the methadone program.
Ponfield continued to abuse Welland before a nurse tried to diffuse the situation.
The group continued to argue and the guards had to prevent Welland from walking up to Cairney.
Meanwhile, Ponfield tried to charge and throw a punch at Welland, continuing to yell at him.
Ponfield started arguing with Field and they are both acted aggressively and tried to get into a physical confrontation but were only stopped by the guards.
The nurse eventually convinced Ponfield and Cairney to go inside the clinic while Welland ripped out a large wooden stake.
He was aggressive, hit his chest with his fist and continued to exchange words, in an attempt to intimidate Cairney.
Welland threw the stake down and got in his car with Field before they drove away.
Police were called and Welland returned to the clinic.
Officers received different versions of events and let all people go home.
They watched CCTV of the incident and later arrested Welland, Ponfield and Field.
Welland was charged with affray and common assault, Ponfield was also charged with affray and behaving in an offensive manner in a public place, while Field charged with behaving in offensive manner in a public place.
The clinic changed the times Welland and Ponfield could attend so the exes do not cross paths in an attempt to prevent further confrontations.
In court on Monday, defence lawyer Ben Hart said Welland had not committed an offence since 2016 until this clinic incident due to being on the methadone program.
He also has a brain injury and noted Welland did not swing or use the wood to hurt Cairney.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming told Welland that he caused other people, especially the nurse, security guard and victim, to be fearful especially after he picked up the piece of wood.
Welland was placed on a community corrections order for 18 months.
Meanwhile, Ponfield was placed on a community corrections order for nine months and Field was fined.
Magistrate Susan McGowan said Ponfield's involvement would have been "frightening and distressing" but was not as serious as Welland's conduct.
Read more court and crime stories here.
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