Wayne Williams, 23, was on a suspended sentence for aggravated robbery when the incident happened on July 23.

It was conceded by solicitor Rob Hussey in Albury Local Court that it began with a trivial incident which escalated into something extremely serious.

Williams had stared at two men in Centro Lavington about 12.30pm and one of them questioned whether there was something wrong.

Almost immediately, Williams went to a public phone and rang friends to come to help him in a fight over an innocuous look.

The two men were followed to the car park at Red Rooster, where Williams had three associates supporting him.

A metal bar and scissors were produced and one man suffered a serious stab wound to the stomach before the four attackers escaped in a car.

Magistrate Tony Murray said that Williams’ behaviour had been “nothing less than disgraceful”.

“This has taken place in a very public part of Lavington,” he said.

The court was told that after Williams sought support, he went around the shopping centre looking for the two men.

He saw them in a supermarket and walked past as they were talking to someone.

They decided to leave and, as they were walking out of the shopping centre. Williams was some distance away watching them.

Williams had a steel bar in his right hand tucked up his sleeve as he was accompanied by associates when they approached the two men.

The bar was used to strike one man across the shoulder and he almost immediately received a stab wound inflicted by another assailant.

Mr Hussey said Williams has conceded he played a primary role.

“He has told me it was absolutely stupid to engage in this conduct,” Mr Hussey said.

Williams is serving a sentence until May 23, when his three-month minimum term begins, making him eligible for release on August 22.