A MAN accused of setting fire to a Tamworth doctors surgery has been refused bail in court.
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Andrew Robert Gillebaard will remain in custody after his bid for release on Thursday was rejected in Tamworth Local Court.
Gillebaard remains in quarantine in Tamworth Correctional Centre - a standard procedure by Corrective Services to screen incoming inmates for COVID-19 after they are refused bail.
He's facing charges of break-and-enter destroy property worth more than $60,000; and damaging property by fire that's worth more than $5000, after a blaze broke out in the doctors surgery in the Robert Street Shopping Centre arcade in the early hours of January 26. He has not been required to enter pleas.
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Legal Aid solicitor Wendy McAuliffe said her client was still in the midst of quarantine and had not been taken for a specialist health assessment, ordered by the court.
Some of the details of the case cannot be reported for legal reasons, but Gillebaard was flanked by his father in court, during the brief hearing.
Ms McAuliffe asked for a two-week adjournment "to confirm that process has started" to have her client assessed by medical professionals, while in custody.
She told the court she was "not instructed to make a bail application", but Gillebaard interjected, asking for bail.
"I've changed my mind, please," he told the court, appearing via video link.
Magistrate Julie Soars said because a previous bail application had been refused, he "need[ed] to show a change of circumstance to satisfy a statutory provision" of the bail laws.
Ms McAuliffe said her client had been previously refused bail for "his own protection" and she relied on his need for a health and medication review, along with a specialist assessment.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie would not be heard on the change of circumstances, and Ms Soars said she could not find any change in circumstances that would allow her to hear a bail application.
She told the court the case was listed on Thursday to "monitor his well-being" and "we all expected some delay", because "due to COVID ... they must be quarantined now for 14 days before the can mix with the general prison population".
"I understand Mr Gillebaard is keen to get back into the community," Ms Soars said.
"I can't find Section 74 made out today, or grant him bail today."
Ms Soars confirmed another order for the specialist assessment, and adjourned the case for two weeks.
"Thank you Your Honour, I love you dad," Gillebaard said.