Justin Luke Yianakis, 40, spent the night in jail on Thursday as his lawyers gathered more evidence for his release.

The accused sat in the dock looking downcast while Sydney barrister Jack Tyler-Stott made the case that Yianakis needed to be released on bail due to mental health problems.

“It’s a fact that he is facing a trial under quite a treatment regime,” he said.

“If he goes off the rails the trial goes off the rails as well because he may be unfit and unable to provide us with proper instruction.”

A psychiatrist’s letter tendered in Tamworth Local Court on Friday stated Yianakis is diagnosed with bipolar-depression and manic episodes.

Yianakis appeared in district court this week on unrelated matters, he has a trial set for February 13 that his lawyer Mr Tyler-Stott was concerned would not go ahead if his client had to remain in custody.

Yianakis is charged with 29 fraud and dishonesty offences centered around betting heavyweights Ladbrokes and CrownBet, along with National Australia Bank and Macquarie Telecom.

Mr Tyler-Stott argued his client was not medicated and in a manic state at the time of the offences so the intention wasn’t there.

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The request for release was on the condition Yianakis be under house arrest, only to leave for psychiatric treatment at Toronto Private Hospital.

He would have no access to electronic devices, be prohibited from applying for a passport or entering an international airport and take the medication he is prescribed.

The request was denied by magistrate Julie Soars on the basis Yianakis had already breached previous bail conditions.

“He’s on quite a cocktail [of medication],” Ms Soars said.

“Bearing in mind many people appear before the local court with mental health issues, while I am sympathetic to that, unless it’s documented there is not adequate assistance in custody I’m unable to believe that supports a show-cause finding.”

Police believe all of the offences were committed in Gunnedah from 2017 to January this year.

Using fraudulent cheques police allege Yianakis tried to steal $3 million from a bank and use a valueless cheque with the intent to obtain $2.9 million on July 13 at Gunnedah.

Yianakis is accused of creating fake identities to steal money, telecommunications items and bitcoin for a number of false companies in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

He is due to face trial in the district court for unrelated matters on February 13, and will return to local court on April 10 via audio link.

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