Tony Popovski appeared in Wollongong Bail Court on Sunday charged with stealing a pair of sneakers and punching their owner in the face.

According to the police facts tendered to the court, the alleged victim was in Globe Lane, Wollongong, on Saturday playing cards with some “elderly gentleman”.

Popovski, on parole after being released from jail earlier this year, approached him and asked for a cigarette.

He then asked the man to show what was in his pockets and saw the man had a $20 note.

“Popovski demanded the victim hand over the money,” the police facts alleged.

“When the victim refused, Popovski punched the victim in the face.”

He then allegedly demanded the man hand over the black, red and white Nike sneakers he was wearing.

The man handed over the shoes and “Popovski then punched the victim in the face before walking off”, the police facts alleged.

The alleged victim then walked to Wollongong police station to report the incident.

According to the police facts, CCTV cameras in Globe Lane did not capture the alleged incident due to “trees covering the area”.

The police alleged the footage showed a shoeless Popovski walking towards the area where the man was and, a short time later, walking away carrying a pair of shoes.

Later that day, police went to Popovski’s house, where they allegedly found a pair of black, red and white sneakers.

The facts allege he told police he bought them at Shellharbour.

In an interview at Wollongong police station, Popovski allegedly denied being in Globe Lane until informed of the CCTV footage.

He then admitted to being there but denied assaulting anyone or stealing a pair of sneakers.

In bail court, Popovski’s solicitor Elizabeth Parkes said the police did not have “a strong case”, pointing to the fact any alleged incident did not appear on the CCTV footage.

Police prosecutor Shannon Ryan responded by claiming it was “a strong prosecution case”.

He conceded the alleged incident occurred out of range of the CCTV cameras but the footage of Popovski walking to and from the location “provides substantial weight to the victim’s complaint”.

Sgt Ryan added that there was a likelihood of a jail sentence if found guilty.

Registrar Peter Ritchie refused Popovski’s bail application, stating the CCTV footage “throws strong circumstantial weight” behind the victim.

Popovski remained in custody to appear before Wollongong Local Court on Monday.