Grant Allan Cotter, 49, of Newport, allegedly pulls knife on good Samaritans helping woman he assaulted for her phone
Two Sydney Aldi supermarket workers were allegedly assaulted and threatened with a knife when they rushed to the aid of a woman who had been attacked for her mobile phone.
Manly
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A man threatened two Sydney supermarket good Samaritans with a knife after they came to the aid of a woman he had allegedly assaulted for her mobile phone.
Grant Allan Cotter, 49, of Newport, also allegedly punched the two male Aldi employees who had rushed from the store at Mona Vale on Tuesday morning to help the woman.
During Mr Cottar’s application for bail on Thursday, Manly Local Court heard that he allegedly assaulted the men before he pulled a knife from his pocket.
He held the blade at his waist and pointed it in the direction of the two men, the court was told.
Mr Cotter had just allegedly snatched the phone off the woman inside the supermarket and tried to smash it.
His Legal Aid solicitor said that Mr Cotter took antipsychotic medication and had believed the woman had been filming him while he was sitting in his car near Aldi.
“That’s why his behaviour escalates and he tries to grab the phone,” the solicitor said.
“When the Aldi workers (intervene) they get assaulted.
“There was certainly paranoia and delusions involved.”
The court heard that the woman had actually been looking at a shopping list on her iPhone.
Mr Cotter was charged with one count of use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, three counts of common assault, one count of steal from person, one count of destroy or damage property and two counts of drive while disqualified.
No pleas have been entered.
The court heard he was currently facing another separate charge involving allegations of stealing a phone from a woman.
The court also heard that Mr Cotter was currently being treated by Brookvale Community Mental Health.
Police opposed his release on bail due to possible danger to the public, while acknowledging that there was a “mental health element” involved.
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton noted that Mr Cotter had a “complex mental health history”, but denied his bail application.
“I think he is too great a risk to the community (and) women with phones,” she said.
Ms Stapleton ordered that his mental health be assessed by Justice Health while his is on remand.
Mr Cotter will be back in court on September 26 for mention.
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