COURT TOLD OF SAVAGE BELMONT BASHING:
A GEELONG motel manager spent five days in a coma after being punched in an unprovoked assault last week, a court has heard.
James Fiske, 27, is accused of launching an attack on the 66-year-old man outside the Parkside Motel on High St, Belmont.
Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the alleged victim suffered bleeding on the brain and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he was placed in an induced coma.
Mr Fiske, who appeared in custody on Thursday, is also accused of being responsible for a savage attack on another man in Whittington two weeks earlier.
He was denied bail after a magistrate found he posed an unacceptable risk of further offending.
Mr Fiske, of no fixed address, has been charged with offences including recklessly causing serious injury and intentionally causing injury.
Geelong CIU Senior-Constable Jeremy Stevens said the motel attack took place on June 25 after Mr Fiske and his partner were denied accommodation because they had no identity documents.
The court heard the pair left the property but remained in its driveway when they were approached by the alleged victim.
Mr Fiske is accused of punching the man twice to the face before leaving the scene.
The man did not initially seek treatment but became unwell later that day, with vomiting and incoherent speech.
He was flown to Melbourne where part of his skull was removed before he was placed in an induced coma.
Sen-Constable Stevens said there was nothing to suggest the attack was provoked.
It is further alleged Mr Fiske viciously assaulted a man with a pole in Whittington on June 11.
The court heard the man was attacked in his caravan about 2am, before losing consciousness and waking up about 60m away.
Police allege Mr Fiske took a photo of the man as he lay unconscious and bleeding on the ground, then sent the image to his partner.
The court heard the man had been in a relationship with Mr Fiske’s girlfriend.
Two titanium plates were inserted in the alleged victim’s jaw after the incident, while he also sustained a broken nose and depressed eye socket.
Mr Fiske is also accused of sending the man a series of threatening messages while he lay in hospital, taking responsibility for the assault and warning that he would “put a bullet” in the victim.
“You’re going to be begging for your life,” one message allegedly read.
Mr Fiske has not yet entered a plea to the charges.
Magistrate John Lesser refused bail and remanded Mr Fiske in custody until July 14.