Joshua McFarlane applied for home detention bail, charged with robbery and false imprisonment

A man caught with a taser and axe also allegedly held another drug user hostage, assaulted and robbed him. He now wants to be released from custody to take care of his sick mother.

A meth addict who allegedly assaulted and robbed a man while holding him hostage was also caught with various weapons while on bail.

Joshua John McFarlane, 29, applied for home detention bail in the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday, so he can care for his sick mother.

A prosecutor opposed all forms of bail, saying McFarlane had previously breached his bail multiple times, including not complying with his curfew and returning positive drug tests.

The court heard McFarlane had also recently pleaded guilty to possessing a taser and an axe, which occurred on another occasion.

“What was more concerning is that in a canvas bag in the garden of the premises was a firearm,” the prosecutor said.

Joshua McFarlane had his bail application adjourned until next month. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the firearms charge was eventually withdrawn because there was no DNA found.

McFarlane, of Morphett Vale, is charged with multiple offences, including robbery, assault and false imprisonment.

The offending allegedly occurred between November 7 and 10, 2019 at Christies Beach.

Peter Hill, for McFarlane, asked for bail on compassionate grounds as his mother has cancer.

“All of the alleged offences are contested,” he said.

“If Mr McFarlane is found guilty in January, he will be doing many years in jail … his mother may not survive that period.”

Mr Hill said the CCTV footage at a petrol station was inconsistent with the alleged victim’s account and it wasn’t a “slam dunk” prosecution case.

“It’s a trial matter in which there is a number of methamphetamine users,” he said.

“The complainant methamphetamine user is saying one thing, Mr McFarlane, also a methamphetamine user, is saying another thing.”

Judge Rauf Soulio asked why McFarlane had kept offending while on bail if he was committed to caring for his mother.

Mr Hill said McFarlane had a methamphetamine addiction.

“That carries with it unfortunate selfishness, even in the face of a mother who he loves dearly,” he said.

“The mother’s condition has deteriorated to a point where she is no longer engaged in employment.

“He is committed, if a chance is provided to be there for his mother in her hour of need.”

Judge Soulio said he needed more evidence about McFarlane’s mother’s condition and adjourned the application until next month.