Nicholas Spasojevic refused bail over alleged police pursuit at Bondi

A man described as a “menace to the community” has been denied bail after allegedly leading police on a wild pursuit through Bondi before punching an officer in the face.

Gould St is a one-way street in Bondi Beach. Picture: Google

A man described as an “absolute menace to the community” allegedly punched a police officer in the face after a wild pursuit through Bondi.

Vaucluse man Nikola Spasojevic faced Waverley Local Court on Monday where he applied for bail.

The 28-year-old entered not guilty pleas to charges of police pursuit – driving dangerously, and assaulting a police officer without actual bodily harm.

He pleaded guilty to not keeping left of the dividing line, refusing to produce a drivers licence, possessing a prohibited drug and disobeying a no entry sign.

He is yet to enter a plea for one count of driving with an illicit drug present in his system.

A police fact sheet tendered to the court alleges around 10.30pm on February 22, police observed a white Volkswagen Golf crossing the double lines at the intersection of O’Sullivan Rd and Old South Head Rd in Bondi.

Spasojevic was observed allegedly crossing over the double lines at the intersection of O'Sullivan and Old South Head roads.

When Spasojevic was pulled over, he was asked to produce his licence which he said he did not have.

When a second police vehicle arrived at the scene for the purpose of breath testing, Spasojevic “harshly accelerated away”, sparking a pursuit, facts allege.

Spasojevic will return to Waverley Court for hearing

Spasojevic was followed down Curlewis St before turning right on to Campbell Parade, Hall St and onto the one-way Gould St, ignoring the no entry sign, facts allege.

As Spasojevic turned into Gould St, he was blocked by a car coming the other way.

The facts allege Spasojevic drove onto the footpath “nearly missing” several pedestrians.

Police terminated the chase over safety concerns before Spasojevic was apprehended by detectives leaving Bondi Beach police station.

It is alleged Spasojevic punched a detective in the face, resulting in a split lip and swelling, before later testing positive for both methamphetamines and cocaine, and was found with 2 grams of heroin in his possession.

On Monday, the court heard Spasojevic who would seek psychological help if released from custody.

However, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge was not prepared to grant bail, citing both Spasojevic’s “horrendous” record and the danger he posed to the community.

“His history is horrendous, he’s clearly a danger to the community,” she said. “He’s still got these issues with drugs … custody is inevitable with his history.”

The police prosecutor added Spasojevic was an “absolute menace to the community” and the court could not have confidence he would comply with any conditions of his bail.

Spasojevic will remain in custody bail refused and his matters will return to court on June 16.