Ayden Cooper has bail conditions tightened after allegedly intimidating

A Thrumster man has been slapped with stricter bail conditions after allegedly threatening a witness in an ongoing assault case.

A Thrumster man has been slapped with stricter bail conditions after allegedly threatening a witness in an ongoing assault case.

Ayden Cooper, 20, was charged with threatening and/or causing injury to a witness and stalking/intimidating with the intent to cause fear during a confrontation at a Port Macquarie nightclub on Saturday.

The witness, Elijah Plummer, testified at Cooper’s ongoing Local Court hearing, where he is defending charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others.

Cooper has pleaded guilty to a third charge of common assault, but is yet to enter a plea on the latest charges.

Police allege he confronted Plummer at Level Up (Altitude) nightclub on William St, a club he is banned from visiting, after arriving at the premises around 10pm.

Cooper is alleged to have approached Plummer and asked “why are you lying about me?”

Plummer allegedly told Cooper they were not meant to be in contact with each other and called security for help, who escorted Cooper from the club.

He was arrested by police this week and charged.

The initial charges stem from an incident which occurred on March 5, 2021, outside Finnian’s Irish Tavern on Gordon St in Port Macquarie.

Cooper approached 18-year-old Lucas Donegan, who was in a relationship with the ex-girlfriend of Cooper’s friend Ben Watson, after Donegan, who was with Plummer and other friends at the time, made a snide remark while walking past the group, according to a set of agreed facts.

The defendant told Donegan he had a “problem” with him as he had slept with his “mate’s missus”, according to the agreed facts.

The groups separated but shortly after Cooper again confronted Donegan, where it is alleged he began to choke the alleged victim, saying “I’m gonna beat the shit out of ya”.

Donegan was allegedly knocked unconscious by Cooper, suffering lacerations to his lip and gum.

Ayden Cooper appeared at Port Macquarie Court House this week.

His two front teeth were also pushed out of place, requiring ongoing dental treatment.

In court on Monday, Mr Cooper’s solicitor Michael Giles put the nightclub confrontation down to “stupidity”, “immaturity” and his young age.

But Magistrate Debra Maher said there must be consequences for Cooper breaking his bail conditions.

“He needs to understand there’s a whole list of people he can’t associate with,” Magistrate Maher said.

Cooper was granted bail for the latest charges with a new curfew condition.

He is not to leave his residential premises between 8pm and 5am.

Ms Maher warned Cooper any breaches could result in his bail being revoked.

“It’s hard to see how he would be released if he breaches these conditions again,” she said.

Both matters are back in Port Macquarie Local Court in August.