The Commercial Hotel, Parramatta: Rhys Surtees, Ellen Smith charged after axe robbery

Pokie winnings were the alleged cause of an axe attack that occurred in the bathroom of a popular pub.

A man was struck with an axe during a terrifying alleged robbery in the bathroom of the Commercial Hotel at Parramatta on Thursday.

Police were called to the Hassall St pub just before 11am after reports a man had been robbed.

The Commercial Hotel at Parramatta.

It’s alleged the 37-year-old man was in the bathroom of the premises when he was approached by Rhys Surtees, who demanded his pokie winnings ticket.

The man refused and he was allegedly struck by Mr Surtees with an axe before his wallet was stolen.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene and suffered wounds to his face. He was taken to Westmead Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 37-year-old man has been taken to hospital after being hit with an axe in an alleged armed robbery in Parramatta. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Police arrested Mr Surtees, 28, on Little St, Parramatta, a short time later, and his partner, Ellen Smith, 35, later on Hassall St.

The pair were taken to Parramatta police station where Mr Surtees was charged with robbery while armed with an offensive weapon causing wounding/grievous bodily harm.

The woman was charged with being an accessory after the fact to an armed robbery and faced a fresh charge — being an accessory to the fact to armed robbery in company — at Parramatta Local Court on Friday where the pair’s lawyer Louise Coorey applied for bail.

The court heard Mr Surtees, of North Parramatta, acted in self defence after a struggle but it would be difficult to provide evidence if the incident was in the bathroom where there was not CCTV footage.

The court heard Mr Surtees was on parole for a similar matter awaiting trial for an allege offence that could carry a 25-year jail sentence.

The court heard the matter was in self defence despite the alleged victim not being armed.

Ms Coorey told the court that Ms Smith, a pregnant mother of seven, denied any involvement in the axe attack because she was at the back of the premises when it allegedly occurred.

“She had no knowledge of what was occurring,’’ Ms Coorey said.

“She’s denying having any possession of the axe or the weapon that is an issue. She’s denying that she ever had the axe, denying she was involved in the robbery.’’

The court heard she was on bail for lower level offences and lived at a different address to Mr Surtees.

However, Magistrate Peter Feather denied bail for the pair.

The matters will return to court on July 8.