Jordan Gold, Michael Page and Joel Russell refused bail over alleged ‘violent’ robbery

Three young men have been refused bail after being charged with the alleged brazen robbery of a woman who was punched in the face on the side of the road and had her handbag stolen.

One young man allegedly punched a woman in the face while another called out from a car “quick steal her bag” before three men allegedly fled with a woman’s handbag in a “violent and brazen” robbery, a court has heard.

Jordan Gold, 19, of Wyongah, Michael Page, 22, of Wyoming and Joel Russell, 20 of Watanobbi, faced Wyong Local Court on Monday all charged with robbery in company.

Mr Gold and Mr Page made release applications through their Legal Aid solicitor but were formally refused bail while Mr Russell made no application and he too was refused bail.

Magistrate Justin Peach described the alleged robbery as “particularly brazen and violent” and said if the facts, as they were presented to court at the time of their arrest, were proven the trio would almost certainly “serve time in custody”.

Mr Peach said the men allegedly pulled up next to a young woman on the side of the road about 6.30am on Sunday, May 22, and attempted to take her handbag.

He said Mr Gold allegedly struck the woman in the face, causing her nose to bleed, while one of the other two men in the car called out “quick, steal her bag”.

Mr Peach said the men fled in the car but were tracked down later about 3.10pm in the afternoon by police who spotted the vehicle near Mingara Recreation Club.

Mr Peach told the court the car allegedly “fled from police” before it was eventually stopped.

“In my view it's a particularly strong prosecution case,” Mr Peach said.

Charge sheets tendered in court allege the three young men stole a black vinyl handbag from the victim which contained a wallet, personal cards, iPhone X and a set of Ford car keys.

The court heard Mr Gold was on a community corrections order at the time of the alleged offence.

In addition to robbery in company, Mr Page was also charged with driving while never having held a licence and failing to stop when directed by police without a reasonable excuse.

Similarly Mr Russell was also charged with being in custody of a knife in public and possessing a restricted substance.

All three men were adjourned to reappear at court via video link on July 19.