Since being remanded in custody for the alleged aggravated robberies of a Canberra McDonald's and Woolworths, a man has threatened his partner, tried to deceive a court and told his cousin that witnesses were "going to get sorted", a court has heard.
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Rhys Sullivan, 24, has been behind bars since his arrest on December 28 last year, and on Wednesday appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court via audio-visual link for an unsuccessful bail application.
He previously pleaded not guilty to two charges of joint commission aggravated robbery, and one count of trespassing.
The case could be committed to the ACT Supreme Court, where he will eventually stand trial, as soon as next week.
In documents tendered to the Magistrates Court, police allege that about 1.19am on December 27, Rhys Sullivan and his brother Joshua Sullivan stole $1213 from McDonald's Erindale after both entered the store with a knife in hand and their faces covered.
Rhys Sullivan is accused of pointing a knife at the stomach of an employee and asking where the money was.
Both men then allegedly entered the manager's office and stole money from cash tills. Joshua Sullivan is also accused of taking cash from a safe.
As they left, Joshua Sullivan emptied a cash register on the counter after demanding the manager open it, according to the police allegations.
About 9.41pm the next day, the brothers allegedly again covered their faces and went into the Calwell Woolworths with knives.
Police say Joshua Sullivan went behind the front counter and was taking cash from a till when a member of the public placed him in a "bear hug" to restrain him until police arrived.
It is alleged that Joshua Sullivan did not release his knife until three members of the public were grappling with him, and that the knife cut one of the civilians' fingers in the struggle.
When police arrived, they allegedly found about $775 in Joshua Sullivan's bag, and $385 on the floor in the area where he had been restrained.
Meanwhile, Rhys Sullivan had allegedly run from the store, with members of the public in pursuit, and past a police patrol while carrying his knife.
While officers looked for him, they were approached by a distressed woman who said there was a man hiding in her garage. Officers allegedly found Rhys Sullivan in the garage, behind an inflatable pool that contained the knife.
In court on Wednesday, Rhys Sullivan's lawyer conceded that he "undeniably has a very serious methamphetamine addiction that substantially increases his risk of reoffending".
But the lawyer said the man could be granted bail and released from custody next Thursday to take up a place at a Sydney rehabilitation facility.
The lawyer said it was a residential facility and would place the 24-year-old some distance from Canberra, addressing prosecution concerns about the likelihood of committing offences while on bail and interfering with witnesses.
Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter refused bail without needing to hear from prosecutors.
She said Rhys Sullivan had a "very significant criminal history", including failures to abide by bail conditions.
Ms Hunter said he had already completed a drug rehabilitation program after being sentenced for previous offences, but found himself again facing serious charges.
The magistrate said police had also provided evidence alleging that since being remanded at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Rhys Sullivan had emailed his partner saying, "You're gone slut", and threatening to send someone to her home because she had been assisting police.
Ms Hunter said there were also allegations that he had emailed his cousin and tried to deceive the court by asking her to find someone to write a letter, falsely stating that he had a full-time job, in support of his bail application.
Rhys Sullivan had also allegedly told his cousin in a recorded phone call that he knew who had chased after him and that it was "going to get sorted". Police believed this to be a reference to him being chased from the Calwell Woolworths and wanting to intimidate witnesses.
In refusing bail, Ms Hunter said: "I have no doubt that any bail conditions I impose would be inadequate."
Both Sullivans are due in court again next Wednesday.
