Bail refused in knife case

A man was allegedly threatened with a pocket knife and told his throat would be slit in a terrifying incident outside South Bunbury Marketplace earlier this month.

Ross John Woods, 23, of Withers, was refused bail in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Friday when Magistrate Evan Shackleton said he did not have any confidence in the “serial offender” complying with bail conditions.

Mr Woods appeared via video link from Bunbury Regional Prison and is yet to plead to one count each of being armed in a way that may cause fear and criminal damage.

The court was told, Mr Woods allegedly approached the 63-year-old victim as he got out of his car at the shopping centre about 1.30pm on May 5 and said “give me a lift, some (one) has stolen my bike”.

When the elderly man refused and tried to walked away, police allege Mr Woods kicked the man’s car before pulling a pocket knife from his pants.

It is alleged Mr Woods then unfolded the knife blade, pointed it at the man and said “I’m going to stick you with this and slice your throat”.

The man went inside the shopping centre to get help from security guards as Mr Woods allegedly used the knife to scratch the car before fleeing.

Police arrested Mr Woods 10 days later when he allegedly told police “I was off my head that day”.

Legal representative Michelle Huber said Mr Woods had been diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

He had entrenched drug and alcohol issues, but she argued he had a good history complying with home detention orders.

Ms Huber also said Mr Woods had gone four months without drinking alcohol while in custody and had been working with a drug rehabilitation group.

Magistrate Shackleton said if Mr Woods was convicted, the offence would breach an existing suspended imprisonment order and it was “inevitable” that he would be jailed.

He also said Mr Woods was a “serial offender” with convictions of violence and weapons and that his offending had “reached a point of propensity”.

Mr Woods was refused bail and the matter was remanded until next month.