CCTV footage played to Wollongong court Friday afternoon shows a man pulling sunglasses over his eyes just after the attendant remotely opens the doors to Nolan Street’s 7-Eleven, at 3.33am Friday. 

He walks to the counter and thrusts a knife towards the attendant, allegedly telling him, “give me all your money otherwise I swear I will come inside the counter”. 

The attendant pauses then moves quickly into an office, a few steps away. 

The thief darts towards the sliding doors and, finding them locked, and the counter area secured by stainless steel wiring, spends the next 10 minutes desperately trying to find a way out. 

At one point he pulls back and lands several hard kicks against the doors.  

Police allege he was attempting to escape through the roof, and disposing of his knife in a garbage bin, in the moments he disappears from frame. 

Finally he grows still. He slumps to the ground and onto his stomach. Unseen by the camera, the police have arrived on the other side of the glass. 

In court on Friday, Paterson, of Raby in Campbelltown, sought release on bail.

His lawyer told the court he lived with his father and grandfather, and would agree to a strict curfew or house arrest if released. 

He said Paterson, who also uses the surname Towel-Patterson, was well-known in the Campbelltown area as a competitive motocross rider, and had been a sponsored rider between the ages of 12 and 16.  

Paterson himself made an appeal for his freedom, telling the court, “what happened early this morning was very out of my character”.  

Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused bail, noting the “extremely strong” prosecution case and the strong likelihood that Paterson, who was on a good behaviour bond at the time of his alleged offending, would face a custodial sentence if he were found guilty. 

The matter returns to Wollongong Local Court on March 21