A Flinders man accused of kicking a man while he was on the ground before his co-accused stole the victim's car was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court yesterday.
Magistrate Les Mabbutt noted that 25-year-old Ben Warick was already on bail for several other matters including alleged acts of violence.
He was charged on Sunday with aggravated robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company.
Police documents tendered to the court said Warick had been drinking and playing poker at the Warilla Sports Club on September 30 when he left in the company of Joseph Engi.
Warick told the court yesterday that Engi was just an acquaintance, not a friend.
About 11pm the pair arrived at a 7-Eleven service station at Shellharbour and a car containing three men pulled up.
According to police, Engi went over to the car and talked to the men before he removed the car keys from the ignition. An argument broke out and Engi allegedly punched one of the car's occupants in the face.
Police said Engi and Warick both repeatedly kicked the man before all three men in the car took refuge in the 7-Eleven.
Engi then allegedly drove off in the men's car.
One of the men was left with cuts to his lower lip, severe bruising, swelling to his left eye and a cut near his left eye.
Warick later told the men the name of his co-accused.
The men's car was later found abandoned at Bass Point.
In court, Warick, of Tuggerah Circuit, told a different version of events. He said he had no idea Engi intended to start a fight or steal a car that night.
In his version of events, Warick only became involved in the altercation when he went to break it up. He later offered to act as a witness for the alleged victims. He is due back in court on November 19.