A male dancer and entertainer has allegedly been caught on CCTV footage punching a man unconscious while he is held in the air by his arms following a large brawl out the front of Mr Crown nightclub.
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Max Halsey, 27, handed himself into police where he was charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was granted bail in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
Documents tendered to court said a group of people left Wollongong nightclub Mr Crown about 1am on November 27 where they got into an argument with two other groups standing outside.
Some people re-entered the club but returned to the front. Halsey walked out too.
The verbal fight continued before it allegedly turned physical, with the melee captured on CCTV.
Two women allegedly came up to Halsey several time before they attempted to punch him before he pushed them away and the brawl petered out.
However, a fight allegedly kicked off again with a number of people but Halsey was not involved.
Police allege the CCTV footage showed Halsey run from a distance towards the brawl and jump and kick a man in the chest. He allegedly continued to fight before he stumbled and the brawls separated.
About 10 minutes later, about six people have another punch-up out the front of nightclub Ron De Vu on Crown Street.
Two began fighting each other on the roadway between two car. Another two men separate the pair, before one of the men is held by each arm.
While the two men hold the victim up by his arms so his legs are off the ground, Halsey allegedly walked over, swung his right arm with a closed fist and punched the victim with force in the face.
The two men holding the victim let go and he immediately went limp and fell to the ground unconscious on the roadway next to a park car.
Halsey allegedly then signalled for his friends to follow him and they ran away, past the man who still was motionless on the ground.
Patrolling police saw Halsey running out of an alleyway and he allegedly matched the description given by witnesses of the brawl.
Halsey was allegedly uncooperative and argumentative when police spoke to him and he denied being in the fight, with the interaction recorded on body worn video.
The victim was treated by paramedics before being taken to Wollongong Hospital. He sustained a fractured eye socket and a bleed on the brain.
Investigators spoke to Halsey on Tuesday and he handed himself into police the next day where he was arrested and charged.
In court on Thursday, police prosecutor Sergeant Sean Thackray said the allegations were "serious" and alleged Halsey had knocked someone unconscious whilst he was held and incapable of defending himself.
Sgt Thackray also noted the prosecution case appeared strong given the incident was captured on CCTV, and Halsey could face a custodial sentence if convicted.
Defence lawyer Ms Logan said Halsey denied the allegations and may rely on self defence.
She noted no one else involved in the melee had been arrested and suggested her client was being used as a "potential scapegoat" for the large incident.
Ms Logan said Halsey's version of events differed from the police allegations and he denied being an instigator of the brawl but rather was alerted to the fight and approached a security guard for help.
She said the case would likely "rise and fall" on the quality of the CCTV.
Ms Logan also said Halsey had been a victim of an assault by multiple men when he was 19 and he sustained fractures to his face and he was therefore not someone who got involved in violent incidents.
Ms Logan said her client had strong ties to the local community, lived with his partner in Wollongong who he supported financially and had family in the area.
She said Halsey had previously worked as a bricklayer and dancer and entertainer with a troupe that had travelled the country before the COVID lockdown. His Facebook profile indicates he is a stripper with Yong Gunz Entertainment.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming said the best action Halsey took was to hand himself into police before she granted him bail. He must report to police daily, not contact any witnesses, not leave his home at night nor enter a licenced premise.
Halsey will return to court on February 10.
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