Female police officer is left with horrific injuries after accused burglar 'repeatedly KNEES her in the face during wild brawl in holding cell'
- Two female police officers were left injured after an alleged jail cell brawl
- One was allegedly kneed four times in the face by a 48-year-old man
- Five people were needed to subdue alleged offender, who is an accused burglar
An alleged burglar accused of repeatedly kneeing a police officer in the face and puncturing her colleague's lung has been refused bail.
Five people were needed to subdue Aaron Heather after he allegedly attacked Sergeant Rachael Robins at Wyong Police Station, on the NSW Central Coast, in March, the state's Supreme Court was told on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old, who'd been arrested in relation to numerous offences including public exposure and burglary, was reportedly calm and compliant before he grabbed Sgt Robins' ponytail and kneed her four times in the head, a crown prosecutor said.
Sargeant Rachael Robins (pictured) suffered horrific injuries after the alleged incident
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Other officers who came to her aid were also allegedly assaulted, including Sergeant Lisa Bennett whose lung was punctured.
Justice Robertson Wright said Heather had no previous record of violence or failure to comply with bail conditions.
But the judge said it was "extremely worrying" Heather's mental health hadn't been assessed since he'd entered custody, given his alleged offending began in the month before the police station incident.
Wyong Police Station (pictured) where the alleged incident occurred
"Without such an assessment, the court cannot be satisfied there will not be a similar episode in the future," he said.
"If there is a psychiatric problem and it recurs, then there is a very substantial risk of (Heather) endangering the safety of the victims and the community."
Heather had offered to live in the northern NSW town of Inverell and stay in the company of his brother "24/7", the court heard.
His case is due to come before Wyong Local Court on August 20.
