A YOUNG man who allegedly held two teenagers at knifepoint has blamed his actions on the drug ice.
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Tyler Parker, 19, of Bolden Avenue, Warrnambool, pleaded with a magistrate to be released on bail yesterday.
Mr Parker faced the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on two charges of attempted armed robbery.
Detective Senior Constable Elissa Smith said that on Monday, June 9, Mr Parker approached two 17-year-old boys at Reid Oval after training and allegedly produced a pocket knife.
“The young boys were at the coach’s building ... he’s pulled a knife from his jacket and said to them ‘does it look like I’m on drugs?” Detective Senior Constable Smith said.
“Both the boys have walked away.”
Mr Parker is alleged to have rushed at both boys holding the knife to their stomachs while demanding items from one of the victims.
“The accused asked the victim for his wallet and phone ... the victim said he didn’t have them on him,” Detective Senior Constable Smith said.
A scuffle quickly ensued between the two and the accused walked away. Detective Senior Constable Smith said the accused hung around the oval and gym allegedly giving the boys “death stares” and allegedly running a finger across his throat in a threatening way.
Mr Parker represented himself in court and argued there was no evidence he had entered the gym and told the court a member of the club had approached him when he arrived at the oval and warned him not to speak to the victims.
Detective Senior Constable Smith said Mr Parker had conceded to using crystal methamphetamine and had not slept for three to four days when interviewed over the alleged robbery.
The court also heard that on May 1 Mr Parker and a co-accused arrived at a Warrnambool address belonging to the ex-partner of Mr Parker’s cousin.
Detective Senior Constable Smith said the pair and the victim began arguing through a broken window.
The confrontation quickly escalated and the pair broke through the glass, assaulting the victim using a piece of wood, a crow bar and punching him.
The victim’s teeth were broken in the assault.
Mr Parker pleaded with magistrate Peter Mellas to be released on bail, saying the actions were a result of using ice, which he had since given up.
“I’ve been in custody a couple days, I don’t want to be like that. I want to make something of myself,” Mr Parker said.
Mr Mellas noted even Mr Parker’s supportive family had not been aware of his ice use and said there was still a risk the accused would continue using the substance.
Mr Parker was denied bail to appear in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in August.