A Unanderra man who is serving a jail sentence in the community for robbery has been accused of stealing three perfume bottles from a young chef walking home from work at Albion Park Rail on Saturday night.
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Lachlan Raymond, 19, faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday where he was refused bail after being charged with robbery.
Magistrate Claire Girotto said she could not release Raymond given he was serving an intensive corrections order for an unrelated robbery in company offence in 2019.
Documents tendered to court said the teenage chef left work at an Albion Park restaurant about 11pm on Saturday night and chose to walk the short distance to his home.
The teen was carrying a black backpack containing personal items including his chefs cap, bank card and three perfume bottles.
Police allege Raymond, who was wearing red shoes and a while 'man bag', rode his scooter past the teen on Tongarra Road near the intersection of Croom Road at Albion Park Rail.
Raymond was with a second man who also walked past the teen.
The teen allegedly ignored Raymond when he yelled out "hey cuz".
Raymond allegedly rode back to the teen and asked "have you got any money on you?" to which the teen replied he only had his work gear prompting Raymond to say, "I don't believe you".
Raymond, upon putting down his scooter, allegedly grabbed the teen's jumper and pulled him off the road and onto the footpath demanding, "show me what's in the bag".
Police allege Raymond was clenching his right hand and the teen thought he could of been holding a knife.
The teen told police he took of his bag and unzipped it. Raymond looked through it before allegedly taking the three perfume bottles, then telling the teen to "keep walking".
Raymond's friend was standing a short distance away and they continued along Tongarra Road.
The teen called his manager, who called Triple 0 to report the alleged robbery.
The teen, while still on the phone, followed Raymond until police arrived.
Officers stopped the friend and placed him under arrest while Raymond allegedly fled the scene on his scooter but the police dog unit found him a short time later in bushes on Russell Street.
Police arrested Raymond and he was searched with police allegedly finding the perfume bottles in his bag.
The men were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
Meanwhile the teen and his manager attended the station and made statements.
The friend was released without charge however Raymond was charged with robbery.
In court on Monday, Magistrate Girotto noted that since Raymond turned 18 he had "clocked up a lot" of charges including breaching an apprehended violence order, common assault, intimidation, malicious damage, custody of a knife in a public place, possessing prohibited drugs and larceny.
She also noted he had the support of his mother and it was his first time in custody but could not overlook that he was on the intensive corrections order, bail and had breached his curfew condition during the alleged robbery.
The case will return to court on May 4.
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