Man denied bail over alleged armed hold-up at Lake Macquarie pharmacy

Cruze Vipen applied for release at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, appearing via video-link from Bathurst jail.

Mr Vipen has been in custody for more than two months after allegedly being caught in possession of a backpack containing eight boxes of diazepam tablets and a screwdriver, near the scene of an armed robbery at Amcal Warners Bay shortly after it was reported on the afternoon of September 15, 2020.

The 25-year-old was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

The court heard on Wednesday that Mr Vipen was applying for bail so he could enter rehabilitation to treat an ice addiction.

But the prosecution opposed the bid for freedom, saying there was "a number of unacceptable risks" associated with releasing him and that the Crown believed the case against the Redhead resident was strong - with "a strong likelihood of a lengthy custodial sentence".

Magistrate Robert Stone rejected the bail application, saying court documents showed that Mr Vipen was facing "quite a serious allegation".

He also agreed that it appeared Mr Vipen was likely to receive a full-time custodial sentence.

Magistrate Stone said he could not consider the possibility of releasing Mr Vipen to seek help for his drug addiction because there was no evidence he had been booked into a residential rehabilitation facility.

The matter was adjourned, with Mr Vipen to face Newcastle Local Court again on January 13.

The matter was adjourned to January 13.

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