Lance Randall Cook, 32, of Coffs Harbour denied bail, mobile footage captured of alleged assault

The only horizons this commercial fisherman will be scanning for the time being will be through prison bars as he stands accused of a “very serious” violent DV assault captured on mobile phone.

Cook was refused bail despite his defense solicitor arguing for him to live on his boat at Coffs Harbour International Marina. Picture: Generic.

A commercial fisherman with a criminal past has been ordered to stay put in prison after an alleged violent domestic assault deemed by a magistrate as ‘very serious’ was captured on a mobile phone.

Lance Randall Cook, 32, was arrested and charged in Coffs Harbour on Monday with domestic violence related offences of destroy or damage property, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

Court proceedings reveal that Cook is a commercial fisherman living on his trawler at Coffs Harbour International Marina.

Defense solicitor Hugo Schleiger applied for bail on behalf of his client and told the court despite him working at sea three to four days a week, he could manage to report to corrections.

However, police prosecutor Sgt Woolnough opposed bail, citing the accused’s record which reveals a warrant for domestic violence matters in the past and a current Intensive Corrections Order (ICO) in relation to a police pursuit.

Cook was refused bail to live on his boat moored at Coffs Harbour International Marina. It is not suggested any of these boats belong to Cook.

Magistrate Julia Virgo told the court the injuries to the alleged victim were “serious”, “the allegations are very serious” and it “involved an altercation”.

“There is a mobile recording of some of this incident,” Ms Virgo said.

She cited Cook’s ICO, which expires in April.

Ultimately Ms Virgo rejected the bail application in Coffs Harbour local court on Tuesday February 25 due to a “risk of further offending and risk to the victim”.

Cook pleaded guilty to destroy or damage property but pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

He remains in custody and will face court again on May 2, 2025.

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Originally published as Lance Randall Cook, 32, of Coffs Harbour denied bail, mobile footage captured of alleged assault