Kebab shop owner Big Rob requested a police escort when leaving Lismore court this morning to avoid being photographed after he was refused Legal Aid to defend charges against him.
The 45-year-old appeared in Lismore Local Court this morning facing six charges including three counts of stalking and intimidation, common assault, breaching an Apprehended Personal Violence Order APVO and two counts of publishing a person’s name prohibited by a section.
The stalking/ intimidation charges and common assault relate to an incident involving Lee-anne Martin at a Lismore sushi restaurant on November 22, 2016.
The breach of APVO and publishing a person’s name prohibited by section charges relate to an interim order between Mr Rob and Lismore Mayor Isaac Smith.
Mr Rob was represented by solicitor Philip Crick who told the court he had been refused Legal Aid.
‘Legal Aid for two matters was refused and there was a third matter that was processed recently and he was refused,’ Mr Crick said.
Mr Crick said he believed Mr Rob could be granted Legal Aid.
‘There is a recommendation I made that he should be granted Legal Aid.’
At Mr Rob’s last appearance, the court heard he would be applying to have his bail conditions varied.
‘I haven’t got to it yet,’ Mr Rob said.
‘I have exams starting on Thursday and I will be making a bail review application.’
Magistrate David Heilpern then asked why Mr Rob’s matters couldn’t be set down for hearing, as he is pleading not guilty to all charges.
‘There are no matters assigned to practitioners,’ Mr Crick said.
‘In that case I will just adjourn the matters for two weeks until they are assigned,’ Mr Heilpern said.
‘Mr Rob is asking for three weeks,’ Mr Crick replied.
Mr Heilpern adjourned Mr Rob’s matters until the next practical date for the court, June 26.
He reminded Mr Rob that the interim AVO between he and Mr Smith was to continue, and he reinforced the conditions he must adhere to.
As Mr Rob has been convicted of stalking Lee-anne Martin, Mr Heilpern noted there needed to be a final APVO made between the pair under section 39 of the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence Act 2007).
‘We should be right to set all the matters down for hearing on the next occasion,’ Mr Heilpern said.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
