A MAGISTRATE has issued an arrest warrant for a Tamworth man who is on the run after skipping court on serious robbery charges.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Aaron Collins was only released on conditional bail by the NSW Supreme Court on November 9 to live in Inverell, after spending four months in custody on remand.
He is yet to enter a plea to charges of robbery in company causing wounding and robbery in company and assault with intent to rob in company, stemming from an alleged home invasion in Petra Ave in Tamworth in the early hours of July 21.
Police allege Collins was one of eight who surrounded the home and robbed a 46-year-old man of prescription drugs, as well as other prescription medication from the man’s 26-year-old son.
The older man was stabbed in the back during the attack, while the younger man was assaulted out the back of the house.
A solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday said the case was ready to head to trial on the last occasion, as well as yesterday, and asked for the court to issue an arrest warrant.
“He still is not here, he has failed to turn up,” she told the court, adding Collins did not appear at his last scheduled DPP appearance.
“The crown was ready to proceed to committal.
“It would be my submission for a warrant to be issued.”
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton granted leave for Collins’ solicitor to withdraw from the case and ordered the immediate arrest of the 31-year-old.
“Arrest warrant to be issued,” she told the court.
As part of Collins’ Supreme Court bail, he was ordered to report to Inverell police daily, not to enter Tamworth unless attending court, and was prohibited from taking drugs or consuming alcohol.
Collins’ co-accused remains bail refused, before the court.