A man accused of robbery and a series of "unprovoked attacks" on strangers at a Warilla shopping centre will remain behind bars after he was denied bail, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Noah Farrawell made a bid for release at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. He is yet to enter pleas to charges of destroying or damaging property, common assault, robbery and shoplifting.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Pavlin said the alleged incident was "serious in nature" and involved Farrawell committing "a series of unprovoked attacks on random members of the community" at the Warilla Grove Shopping Centre.
Sergeant Pavlin added it was a strong prosecution case given there were multiple witnesses and that parts of the alleged incident were caught on CCTV.
In opposing bail, she pointed to Farrawell's lengthy criminal history adding that he was on a community corrections order at the time of the alleged offending.
Defence lawyer Emel Ozer told the court Farrawell had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and a brain injury.
He had recently spent five days at Shellharbour Hospital and had now been released from their care, the court heard.
Ms Ozer conceded it was a strong prosecution case, but proposed Farrawell could comply with bail conditions including to reside in Oak Flats and not enter the shopping centre.
However Registrar Tina McKenna was not convinced any conditions could be imposed to mitigate concerns including committing further offences and endangering the safety of the community.
She denied bail and adjourned the matter to January 9.
Read more Illawarra court and crime stories here.
Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
