A father who, while looking for his daughter, allegedly twice punched a 14-year-old boy in his home, will stay in jail until at least March.
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The 41-year-old Dapto man appeared at Port Kembla Local Court on Monday charged with aggravated break and enter and assault over an alleged incident from the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to police, the man’s daughter was talking to the alleged victim on the phone late on Saturday night.
During that call the daughter argued with her mother and then fled the house. Believing she had gone to the boy’s house, the parents called him and were told she was not there.
Despite this, police allege that shortly after midnight the man and his wife went to the alleged victim’s home in Figtree.
Police allege the accused knocked on the unlocked front door once and then let himself in. He allegedly said to the 14-year-old “where’s my f---ing daughter?’
During the visit police allege the offender punched the teenage boy in the jaw and torso and destroyed his mobile phone.
The man’s wife then entered the house and allegedly told her husband to leave.
Several hours later, the alleged victim contacted police and the man was arrested on Sunday morning.
According to police, the man admitted entering the house and punching the victim in the jaw. He denied punching him in the torso and could not recall smashing his phone.
In court on Monday police prosecutor Sergeant Ben Hart opposed bail, calling the actions an “unprovoked and malicious attack on a 14-year-old child in his own home”.
He said based on the police facts, a stint in jail was highly likely.
Defence solicitor John Gallagher said the accused would agree to strict bail conditions, including staying away from the alleged victim and reporting to police regularly.
Magistrate Susan McGowan said the accused had been charged with “serious offences” and she was not sure bail conditions would ensure the safety of the alleged victim. She refused bail and remanded him to appear in Wollongong Local Court on March 23.