Dubbo: Brodie Fernando, teenager charged after taxi driver allegedly hit with tomahawk

Police claim to have linked a man and a teenage boy to more than a dozen break-ins while arresting the pair over the alleged armed robbery of a taxi driver.

Two people are set to face court on Monday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Two people have been charged with a string of break-in and assault offences after one of them allegedly hit a taxi driver multiple times while armed with a tomahawk.

Brodie Fernando, 22, and 15-year-old boy were arrested on Sunday night in Dubbo, where police also allegedly found evidence linking the pair to a string of earlier incidents.

NSW Police said a 64-year-old taxi driver was stopped on Douglas Mawson Dr, Dubbo, when he was approached by two males on a red trail bike about 4.55pm on Sunday.

Police claim one of the males broke one of the vehicle’s windows with a tomahawk before hitting the driver multiple times on his arm, then driving off with his mobile phone and cash.

Orana Mid-Western Police District officers attended, established a crime scene and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police will allege the pair were linked to 13 other break-ins around Dubbo.

Police subsequently arrested the 22-year-old and 15-year-old at a home in Dubbo about 8pm.

“During a search of the property, officers allegedly located and seized a mobile phone, a red Honda motorcycle, a tomahawk and other items,” police said in a statement.

Police will allege in court the items are linked to 13 break and enter incidents at commercial properties in Dubbo since July 3.

Fernando was taken to Dubbo Police Station and charged with aggravated robbery and inflicting aggravated bodily harm, breaking, entering and committing a serious indictable offence, eight counts of aggravated breaking, entering and committing a serious indictable offence in company, two counts of attempted aggravated break and enter, and two counts of aggravated breaking and entering with intent to commit a serious indictable offence in company.

Dubbo courthouse. Picture: Jedd Manning/Western Aerial Productions

He was also charged with larceny, entering a vehicle without consent, not stopping during a police pursuit, driving while disqualified, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and hindering the execution of a search warrant.

He was refused bail to appear in Dubbo Local Court on Monday, where he was formally remanded in custody to reappear via audiovisual link on August 15.

NSW Police said the 15-year-old boy was charged with an outstanding warrant relating to the offence of aggravated breaking, entering and committing a serious indictable offence.

He was refused bail to face a children’s court on Monday.

The boy was also given a future service court attendance notice for being carried in a stolen vehicle.