A hospitality manager accused of causing widespread panic at Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter with a fake gun was attending a dress-up party.

Still wearing his military costume, Jacopo Mastrocinquel, 35, fought back tears when he faced court on Tuesday after spending a night behind bars over the alleged incident in Moore Park, in Sydney’s inner-east.

The court heard Mastrocinquel was attending a heroes and villains-themed work party at Strike Bowling on Monday afternoon.

He went outside to smoke a cigarette at about 4.45pm when concerned onlookers, frightened by his costume called triple-zero, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Mastrocinquel was wearing a ballistic vest bearing the American flag and allegedly had a fake gun taped to his chest.

He was swarmed by tactical police a short time later and detained. His friend, 39, was also arrested.

A fake police badge and plastic handcuffs were allegedly found in his possession.

Mastrocinquel was charged with possessing an unregistered and unauthorised pistol in a public place and offensive behaviour in a public place. 

Jacopo Mastrocinquel (above) was arrested outside an Oporto in Moore Park shortly before 5pm on Monday

The court on Tuesday heard Mastrocinquel (above) was allegedly wearing a fake firearm as part of his ‘hero’ costume for a work event

Mastrocinquel’s barrister Wali Shukoor told the court that his client was ‘foolish’ to carry the fake weapon but hadn’t intended to scare people. 

‘This is a case of a very, very poor and foolish decision to attend (the party dressed) in the way he did but it’s not one driven by any anti-social attitude by any kind of ill-intent, any kind of malice,’ Mr Shukoor said.

An officer testified they had obtained CCTV from the nearby bowling venue, which confirmed a costume party had taken place. 

‘I did ask the officer to perhaps describe some of the costumes that she observed,’ the prosecuting sergeant told the court.

‘She named a superhero costume, Pikachu costume and a person in a Scream mask as well at the bowling alley.’ 

The court heard that Mastrocinquel had no criminal record, has lived in Australia since 2014 and was in a long-term relationship.

He is a restaurant manager and owner of pizza catering company The Italian Fellas.

‘There’s no suggestion of any anti-social views,’ his lawyer said. 

Police alleged Mastrocinquel was carrying a fake weapon, bullet-proof vest, police badge (above) and plastic handcuffs

The prosecutor opposed bail for Mastrocinquel due to the alleged fake firearm being ‘realistic in appearance’.

‘I would submit (it was) indistinguishable from a genuine firearm, which only adds to the seriousness of the matter. I would say it is a strong case,’ she said.

However, Mr Shukoor noted it was unlikely Mastrocinquel would face a full-time jail sentence if convicted.

Still dressed in his military costume, Mastrocinquel broke down while recalling the incident, telling the court that he had been at a ‘staff party from the restaurant that I work with’.

‘You can ask everyone who was there. My manager, my general manager, you can ask them,’ he said.

A relieved Mastrocinquel fell to his knees and cried after Local Court Judge Daniel Covington granted him bail.

As part of his bail conditions, the 35-year-old must reside at his partner’s North Ryde address, surrender his Australian and Italian passports and is banned from entering Moore Park.

Judge Covington noted that Mastrocinquel immediately complied with police instructions during his arrest.

Defence for Mastrocinquel (pictured during his arrest) described his alleged actions as ‘foolish’ but without malice

‘He’s very distressed and somewhat shocked to find himself in this situation,’ solicitor Cassy Giudice said.

Judge Covington said that Mastrocinquel would have been especially scary to witnesses in Sydney following the deadly Bondi Beach terrorist attack in December.

‘People are in significant fear of another event occurring and that’s, I guess, the stupidity of the outfit that he’s said to have worn to this particular event,’ he said.

Detective Superintendent Peter Glynn urged the public to be mindful about how they dress, act and behave in public.

‘It’s a timely reminder regarding the heightened concerns the community have about public safety,’ he said.

‘Any calls to police regarding threats to public safety will be taken very seriously. 

‘People need to be mindful about how they dress and they act and they behave in public, particularly if they’re carrying firearms or imitation firearms … that could be seen as genuine.’

Mastrocinquel will reappear in court on August 18.

His friend, 39, was charged with prohibited drug possession.

He was released on bail and will appear in Downing Centre on August 20.