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A man accused of repeatedly pricking a baby boy with a safety pin and hitting him in the head with a phone while on a train north of Sydney was on parole for several assaults, a court has heard.
Police said the 22-year-old man Brendon Duncan "cannot restrain himself" when requesting bail be denied for the alleged abuse that went on for over an hour against the 10-month-old baby.
The man was charged with domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of common assault after was arrested at Woy Woy Railway Station Wednesday night after a passenger alerted police.
Brendon Duncan, 22, is accused of beating a 10-month-old baby on a Sydney train. Source: Supplied
Keeping her identity hidden, the witness told 7 News what she saw was "evil, just pure evil".
"When the baby wouldn't take the bottle the male then tried to punch the child," she said.
Onlookers were petrified with fear, and too afraid to intervene they called the police.
Mr Duncan fronted Woy Woy Local Court where it emerged he was released on parole in March having served 10 months for six assault charges, News Corp reports.
Police boarded the train at Woy Woy Station about 8.30pm on Wednesday after a passenger raised concerns about the alleged treatment of the child on the north-bound train.
The infant was in a pram next to his mother and the Mr Duncan. The child was taken to Gosford Hospital with head injuries but remains in a stable condition.
In a statement of facts presented to the court, police said the accused had allegedly tried to prick the child around the ears with a safety and hit him on the head with a mobile phone.
The baby's mother was taken away by paramedics. Source: 7 News
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VIDEO Good Samaritan praised for stopping child abuse on train
"Between Central and Woy Woy the accused was seen to utilise a safety pin to repeatedly prick the child around the ear and neck region, in an attempt to pierce the ear of the child," the police fact sheet stated.
"Throughout the journey the accused was also seen to hit the child in the head multiple times with his mobile phone. During the trip the child was dropped on the ground of the train, landing on his head. As a result the child had a minor laceration to his right eyebrow.
"The child appeared distressed and was crying hysterically and the accused and (the boy’s mother) told the child to 'shut up'."
Police noted the child appeared "visibly distressed and crying hysterically", News Corp reports.
Police prosecutor Richard Taylor (left). Source: 7 News
Legal Aid solicitor Samantha McKensey argued while applying for bail that the charges against the accused were weak and based upon a sole account of one witness.
The lawyer added the child "was not deliberately dropped, the child fell", saying the mother was in court to support this version of events.
In applying for bail, McKensey said the 22-year-old accused was the prime carer of his disabled, wheelchair-bound sister and did not live with the baby's mother.
Magistrate Andrew George questioned what arrangements were made when he was last in prison, to which McKensey said the woman was provided some care but the accused had since taken over full-time duties.
The witness who reported the alleged abuse to police. Source: 7 News
Police prosecutor Richard Taylor argued the case was not weak in opposing bail, arguing the accused possessed no self control.
"The child had injuries, it was quite a serious assault in my opinion," Taylor said.
"The accused seems to be a person who restrain control himself. In my submission it is not a weak case at all."
The accused was on parole until November having served 10 months for six assaults, the court heard.
Magistrate George denied bail, adjourning the case until September 6.
As the accused was lead from the courtroom he called out to the victim's mother, saying: "I love you, I will call you as soon as I can."
Police said they were working with the Department of Family and Community Services and the child had been placed in care.
Police said the 22-year-old man Brendon Duncan "cannot restrain himself" when requesting bail be denied for the alleged abuse that went on for over an hour against the 10-month-old baby.
The man was charged with domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of common assault after was arrested at Woy Woy Railway Station Wednesday night after a passenger alerted police.
Brendon Duncan, 22, is accused of beating a 10-month-old baby on a Sydney train. Source: Supplied
Keeping her identity hidden, the witness told 7 News what she saw was "evil, just pure evil".
"When the baby wouldn't take the bottle the male then tried to punch the child," she said.
Onlookers were petrified with fear, and too afraid to intervene they called the police.
Mr Duncan fronted Woy Woy Local Court where it emerged he was released on parole in March having served 10 months for six assault charges, News Corp reports.
Police boarded the train at Woy Woy Station about 8.30pm on Wednesday after a passenger raised concerns about the alleged treatment of the child on the north-bound train.
The infant was in a pram next to his mother and the Mr Duncan. The child was taken to Gosford Hospital with head injuries but remains in a stable condition.
In a statement of facts presented to the court, police said the accused had allegedly tried to prick the child around the ears with a safety and hit him on the head with a mobile phone.
The baby's mother was taken away by paramedics. Source: 7 News
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Current Time0:04
/
Duration Time0:15
Loaded: 0%
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VIDEO Good Samaritan praised for stopping child abuse on train
"Between Central and Woy Woy the accused was seen to utilise a safety pin to repeatedly prick the child around the ear and neck region, in an attempt to pierce the ear of the child," the police fact sheet stated.
"Throughout the journey the accused was also seen to hit the child in the head multiple times with his mobile phone. During the trip the child was dropped on the ground of the train, landing on his head. As a result the child had a minor laceration to his right eyebrow.
"The child appeared distressed and was crying hysterically and the accused and (the boy’s mother) told the child to 'shut up'."
Police noted the child appeared "visibly distressed and crying hysterically", News Corp reports.
Police prosecutor Richard Taylor (left). Source: 7 News
Legal Aid solicitor Samantha McKensey argued while applying for bail that the charges against the accused were weak and based upon a sole account of one witness.
The lawyer added the child "was not deliberately dropped, the child fell", saying the mother was in court to support this version of events.
In applying for bail, McKensey said the 22-year-old accused was the prime carer of his disabled, wheelchair-bound sister and did not live with the baby's mother.
Magistrate Andrew George questioned what arrangements were made when he was last in prison, to which McKensey said the woman was provided some care but the accused had since taken over full-time duties.
The witness who reported the alleged abuse to police. Source: 7 News
Police prosecutor Richard Taylor argued the case was not weak in opposing bail, arguing the accused possessed no self control.
"The child had injuries, it was quite a serious assault in my opinion," Taylor said.
"The accused seems to be a person who restrain control himself. In my submission it is not a weak case at all."
The accused was on parole until November having served 10 months for six assaults, the court heard.
Magistrate George denied bail, adjourning the case until September 6.
As the accused was lead from the courtroom he called out to the victim's mother, saying: "I love you, I will call you as soon as I can."
Police said they were working with the Department of Family and Community Services and the child had been placed in care.
