Leon Monte Austin, 35, appears in court over Salisbury Heights knifepoint bottle shop robbery

A man arrested after a bottlo staff were threatened with a knife at a robbery has faced court – and will stay behind bars for at least the rest of the month.

A man accused of being involved in a knifepoint bottleshop robbery was wanted by police at the time – and is stuck behind bars because his aunt is unreachable.

On Friday, Leon Monte Austin, 35, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court following his arrest on Thursday morning.

Rachel-Anne Regester, for Mr Austin, told Magistrate Rodney Oates she would not apply for bail because she had been unable to contact Mr Austin’s aunt.

“I’ve been unable to obtain contact details to the proposed address, other than he has supplied the name of his aunty,” Ms Regester said.

Prosecutors told the court they opposed all forms of bail, because Mr Austin had been arrested on an active warrant, and not the new alleged offending.

“He’s on bail for a similar offence, and he didn’t attend court so a warrant was issued,” police prosecutors told the court.

Mr Austin was arrested after police were called to Old Spot Hotel on Main North Rd at Salisbury Heights just after 1.30am on Thursday after reports three men had broken into the bottleshop and were stealing alcohol.

Staff members confronted the group as they attempted to leave and one of the men allegedly produced a knife and threatened the employee.

Police said the men fled the scene and ran towards Carisbrooke Reserve.

Police arrived with police dog Chaos called in to assist.

Patrols located one of the men on Collingbourne Dr where he was arrested.

Police said a knife was found along with alcohol discarded in the reserve, but the two outstanding men could not be located.

Mr Austin, of Elizabeth South has been charged with robbery and serious criminal trespass.

He was remanded in custody until August.