A former navy serviceman accused of trying to hold up a cabbie with a syringe has been refused bail.
Geoffrey Richard Hawkins, 32, of Queanbeyan, faced charges of attempted robbery with an offensive weapon in the ACT Magistrates Court.
He did not enter a plea.
Police allege that Hawkins flagged down a taxi in Turner at about 6.40pm on Sunday and asked about the fare to Queanbeyan.
The court heard the taxi driver told Hawkins the trip would cost about $40 and noticed that he seemed to be looking around nervously.
The cabbie then decided not to take the fare and told Hawkins he had to go.
Police allege Hawkins then pulled out a syringe and demanded money, but the robbery attempt was foiled when the taxi driver reversed his car and drove away.
The driver followed the man down the street and called police, pointing Hawkins out to officers who arrived on the scene.
The court heard officers recovered two syringes on the street nearby and arrested the defendant.
Hawkins allegedly told officers he had been addicted to the drug methylamphetamine, also known as ice, for three years and was coming down from a drug-induced high at the time.
But the police informant said Hawkins had been examined by a medical officer after his arrest and had been found fit to be interviewed.
He agreed that officers had not found any drugs, syringes or other paraphernalia on Hawkins's person when he was arrested.
The court heard the former serviceman had no criminal history and had recently finished a contract with the public service.
Hawkins's lawyer told the court her client was a mature man who had done everything he could to cooperate with police and had clear ties to the territory.
She said there was no evidence that Hawkins was likely to re-offend and no prior history to indicate that likelihood.
Magistrate Maria Doogan said the risk of reoffending was too great and the alleged offence had been committed on a vulnerable member of the community.
She refused bail and remanded Hawkins in custody until February.
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