Lismore ‘identity’ Big Rob will face a hearing in November over an alleged incident involving a woman at a Lismore restaurant almost 12 months ago.
The failed mayoral candidate appeared in Lismore Local Court on Monday and was represented by solicitor Vince Boss.
He faced charges of common assault and three counts of stalking and intimidation.
The 46-year-old, who changed his name from Robert Bou-Hamdan when he ran in the 2016 council elections, was also initially charged with using a carriage service to menace/harass/threaten, a charge that was withdrawn by police when he appeared in court on April 3.
The common assault and stalking and intimidation charges relate to an alleged incident involving Leanne Martin on November 22, 2016.
When Ms Martin noticed a mural of a Koi fish on the restaurant wall and saw Big Rob was sitting in front of it, she went outside to take a photo of it to show her daughter, rather than be intrusive, police facts said.
Ms Martin walked back inside Sushi Kuni she was confronted by Big Rob who questioned why she took the photo.
‘When Ms Martin attempted to walk away it is alleged Mr Rob took hold of her shirt and pulled her back toward him before he took a close up photo of her face,’ police facts stated.
Feeling intimidated and unsafe, Ms Martin left.
The following day, police allege Mr Rob again stalked and intimidated Ms Martin when he attended her workplace between 12.21pm and 12.30pm.
On Monday Magistrate David Heilpern confirmed Mr Rob’s pleas of not guilty to the charges and adjourned his matters until November 1, for hearing.
A listing advice detailing the witnesses involved is required to be lodged with the court seven days before the hearing.
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