A Wollongong thug accused of “viciously” attacking two senior constables in the Crown Street Mall has a history of assaulting police, a court has heard.
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Corey Blackmore, 25, is alleged to have headbutted and punched the two officers as they tried to arrest him following an alcohol-fuelled confrontation with GPT security guards on Monday morning.
In court documents, police noted Blackmore had a history of violent offences on his record and suggested he presented an unacceptable risk to public safety.
“The accused has a propensity to commit unprovoked violent acts on the police, his family and members of the public,” officers wrote in urging the court to keep Blackmore behind bars.
“Police fear that if granted bail the likelihood of [Blackmore] seriously injuring someone else would be high.”
A set of police facts tendered in court said the two officers were patrolling the Wollongong CBD when they noticed Blackmore walking in the mall drinking a bottle of beer in violation of the alcohol-free zone.
It is alleged he became aggressive when he was stopped, prompting police to give him as direction to leave the CBD and not return for at least six hours.
The court heard he appeared to obey the direction and left the immediate area, however returned just 20 minutes later, this time attracting the attention of GPT security guards with his “disorderly” behaviour.
The guards reported Blackmore was swearing at them and pointing in an aggressive manner, prompting them to signal for help from passing police, who were the same officers involved in the earlier incident.
It is alleged Blackmore continued to swear, prompting police to attempt to place him under arrest.
He allegedly stiffened his arms when officers took hold of him, then struggled against them before allegedly headbutting one of the officers.
The trio – Blackmore and the two policemen – fell to the pavement, with Blackmore allegedly throwing four punches at the constables before they were able to subdue him with capsicum spray and arrest him.
The court heard Blackmore urinated all over the police cells while in custody.
Meanwhile, both officers received cuts and swelling to their faces but were otherwise unharmed.
Magistrate Susan McGowan refused Blackmore’s bail application on Tuesday on account of his poor criminal record and an “alarming” report from the court’s mental health nurse, who cast a dim view on Blackmore’s dedication to improving his mental wellbeing.
The case will return to court on February 12 for plea or mention.
