PICTURED: Duo charged with robbing a wheelchair-bound paraplegic as he withdrew cash - as family of accused say they've received death threats after footage outraged Australia
- Pair of men allegedly brazenly snatched $100 from wheelchair-bound man
- Julian Stuart, 42, has cerebral palsy and went to use an ATM in Sydney on Sunday
- Two men allegedly loitered before taking cash and running down George Street
- Jarrod Elphick, 20, turned himself in and was charged with stealing on Tuesday
- His co-accused, 20-year-old Nathan Laidlaw was also charged on Wednesday
Two men who allegedly snatched $100 from a wheelchair-bound man at an ATM have been charged.
Julian Stewart, 42, who has cerebral palsy, noticed two men loitering near an ATM in Haymarket, at the southern end of Sydney's CBD, at 11.45am on Sunday.
CCTV footage shows two men waiting for Mr Stewart to finish his transaction before one of them allegedly snatched the cash out of his hands and ran from the busy ANZ branch on George Street.
Police allege on of those men was Jarrod Elphick, from the NSW South Coast town of Sanctuary Point.
He handed himself in to police on Tuesday and was charged with stealing just hours after the footage was released.
Jarrod Elphick (left) and Nathan Laidlaw (right), both 20, were charged over the alleged robbery
Julian Stewart (pictured), 42, who has cerebral palsy, was allegedly robbed as he withdrew cash from an ATM in Sydney on Sunday
Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim turned down a police application for him to be remanded in custody and he was granted bail under strict conditions which amount to house arrest.
His co-accused, 20-year-old Nathan Laidlaw from Riverwood in Sydney's south-west, was on Wednesday charged and is due to face court in August.
The court on Wednesday heard Elphick's parents had received death threats after footage of the alleged theft circulated online.
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'I've spoken with both parents and I'm instructed that Mr Elphick is struggling with mental health issues which will in due course become clear,' Elphick's barrister, Nic Angelov, told the court.
'He's not the monster he's portrayed as in some sections of the media and community and on social media.'
Mr Angelov said Elphick's parents were concerned for the welfare of alleged victim Julian Stewart.
Jarrod Elphick, from the NSW South Coast town of Sanctuary Point, on Tuesday handed himself in and was charged with stealing just hours after CCTV footage was released by NSW Police
Elphick's co-accused, 20-year-old Nathan Laidlaw from Riverwood in Sydney's south-west, was on Wednesday charged and is due to face court in August
Mr Stewart is wheelchair-bound due to his cerebral palsy condition. Speaking out after the alleged robbery, Mr Stewart said his two alleged attackers should 'get a job'
The lawyer said the 20-year-old's mother had a child in her care who suffered from a form of palsy.
Elphick was not required to appear in court in person and sobbed via a video link from Amber Laurel Correctional Centre as he viewed proceedings.
While Elphick did not enter a plea, the court heard he conceded to detectives that it was him in the widely circulated CCTV footage.
Police allege the vision shows Elphick and Laidlaw grabbing cash from Mr Stewart at a Haymarket ATM on Sunday morning.
The pair enter the ATM alcove and wait until Mr Stewart - who suffers from spastic diplegia cerebral palsy - withdraws cash.
Detectives allege Elphick can be seen briefly speaking into the ear of his accomplice before grabbing the money. The pair then run off.
Pictured: NSW Police released images from the alleged robbery and called for public assistance in helping to identify the two men
Police prosecutor Jarrod Imlay opposed bail on the grounds of the vulnerability of the victim and that the crime was allegedly committed with an accomplice.
'It is a brazen offence in public and members of the community who cannot protect themselves rely on police and the criminal justice system to keep them safe,' he said.
Elphick is facing a maximum jail term of 14 years if found guilty but Mr Abdul-Karim granted him bail arguing any time spent behind bars was likely to exceed any sentence.
The accused was granted bail to live with his mother and will not be allowed to leave the house unless accompanied by her.
He is prohibited from contacting Mr Stewart, his co-accused or entering the Sydney CBD.
