Cross punched woman in face
A GEELONG man who started a vigilante group and vowed to protect the city from crime was denied bail over unlawful assault and theft charges yesterday.
Nick Cross, 30, of no fixed address, faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court over seven charges including stealing a car, assault and recklessly causing injury.
The Geelong Advertiser is legally prohibited from revealing three of the other charges.
Police allege in one incident Mr Cross verbally abused a victim before throwing a mug and punching her in the cheek.
Leading Senior Constable Tim Kerwin told the court the victim suffered several injuries.
“The accused became verbally abusive to the victim, picked up a mug and has thrown it at the victim, which missed and smashed on window behind,” he said.
“The accused has pushed the victim into a barbecue, causing the victim to fall over the barbecue … the victim got to her feet and ran back towards the shed to get away from the accused.
“The accused has then punched the victim to the left cheek, causing her to lose balance again, falling back causing cuts to the hands from glass on the ground.”
He said several crates were found at the residence where Mr Cross was staying that allegedly contained stolen goods he was selling to pay for a drug habit.
The court heard Mr Cross was arrested after being found with a stolen car.
Sen-Constable Kerwin said Mr Cross had also bought a vehicle from someone in Bell Post Hill and the front bumper of that vehicle was found a “short distance” from a two-car collision.
“It was revealed the accused had neglected to submit the transfer papers from the vehicle and had been driving it at the time of the incident,” he said.
He said Mr Cross had an extensive criminal history of dishonesty, trafficking drugs, had failed to appear in court three times since 2012 and was “known to associate with well known drug dealers throughout Melbourne and Geelong”.
Mr Cross’s lawyer Adrian Paull said there were some weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
“It’s alleged that there are items in the shed that are being sold for drug habit but there are no charges for that,” he said.
He said his client had not been hiding from police and there was no visual evidence his client had punched the victim in the face.
In denying bail, Magistrate Steven Raleigh said Mr Cross was an unacceptable risk to the community and clearly had a blatant disregard for court orders.
Mr Cross was remanded to appear before the court on May 10.