Anthony Read and Brandon Olden charged with bashing, running over Bendigo man on Sparrowhawk Rd, Long Gully

A teen accused of bashing a Bendigo man with a cricket bat and running him down with a car in a vicious attack that left the alleged victim blinded and “dying in the street” has fronted court.

Anthony Read, 18, was charged with allegedly bashing a 67-year-old man with a cricket bat before running him over in a car on Sparrowhawk Rd, Long Gully in Bendigo.

Police have laid fresh charges against two teens accused of bashing a Bendigo man and running him down with a car after he told them to stop doing burnouts in his street.

Long Gully man Anthony Read, 18, and Kangaroo Flat man Brandon Olden, 19, allegedly viciously attacked a 67-year-old man with a cricket bat and ran him down with a car on Sparrowhawk Rd, Long Gully on January 9.

Police allege the duo attacked the man because he told them to stop doing burnouts, leaving him “dying on the side of the road”.

Anthony Read, 18, was refused bail at Bendigo Magistates'’ Court after allegedly bashing a 67-year-old Bendigo man and running him over with a car.

The court heard the alleged victim was left with severe head trauma that required surgery, blinded in his right eye, broken bones, and skin was ripped off his legs and feet which required daily skin grafts.

The court heard that Mr Olden was mounting a “cut throat defence”, claiming Mr Read bashed the man with the bat and ran him down with the car.

Mr Read’s lawyer is arguing police cannot prove the 18-year-old was the main aggressor in the alleged assault, despite the co-accused Mr Olden’s “self-serving” statement to police.

However, the court heard the cricket bat was being analysed for DNA to try and prove who wielded it during the assault.

Both co-accused faced Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a filing hearing where an upgraded charge of intentionally causing serious injury was added to their existing charges of assault and dangerous driving causing serious injury.

The court heard co-accused Brandon Olden would testify that Mr Read wielded the cricket bat and ran the 67-year-old man over on Sparrowhawk Rd.

An indictable offence that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, the new charge comes as the alleged victim still remains in hospital more than a month later blinded in his right eye as a result of the alleged assault.

Mr Read on Friday also applied for bail a second time after he was refused on January 13 which was vehemently opposed by police who argued he posed an unacceptable risk of causing further harm to persons in the community and reoffending.

Mr Read applied for bail to an Energetic St address in Long Gully less than 2km from his alleged victim’s address which the prosecution argued was “absolutely unacceptable”.

Police further alleged Mr Read had photographed himself aiming a firearm out of his bedroom window at the proposed bail address.

Police raised major concerns that the firearm has not been located, alleging Mr Read would have access to its hiding place if released on bail.

The defence claimed prison was “more onerous” for Mr Read than the average criminal because of his youth and “cognitive deficits”.

The court heard Anthony Read, 18, was allegedly driving on a disqualified learners permit while alcohol affected when he allegedly ran over the alleged victim on Sparrowhawk Rd.

Mr Read’s lawyer argued delays in the committal process towards the County Court could see Mr Read spend more time in custody on remand than any sentence.

The defence argued Mr Read was suitable for CRISP, a bail program for people at risk of reoffending that offers support like drug and alcohol treatment.

However, Magistrate Sharon McRae said Mr Read had been “disingenuous” during his CRISP assessment.

The court heard Mr Read had allegedly lied about his drug use, with alleged video evidence coming to light showing him using drugs during a period he claimed to be abstinent.

The court also heard he had said “I don’t need no help [sic]” in response to offered drug and alcohol support.

Ms McRae said there were no bail conditions that could mitigate Mr Read’s risk of committing further driving offences and the only compelling reason for bail was his youth.

Ms McRae said allegations by police that Mr Read had been hooning and doing burnouts for several hours at various locations in Bendigo before the vicious assault allegedly demonstrated he was willing to place the public’s lives at risk.

Ms McRae said she could not be satisfied he would not drive or that he would comply with CRISP and refused his bail.

Mr Read has served 33 days in pre-sentence detention and will remain behind bars on remand until a committal mention on May 28 when he and his co-accused Mr Olden will return to court.