A man has faced a Wollongong court, accused of stabbing a sleeping man and leaving him with a punctured lung.
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Cameron Gray appeared at Wollongong Local Court on Friday after he was charged with aggravated break and enter and committing a serious offence.
Police documents alleged the 23-year-old man from Nowra and another person broke into a Mascot unit shortly before 6am on December 29 and began stabbing the victim while he slept on the lounge.
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The pair then allegedly dragged the victim towards the bedroom and sat him on a stool, demanded property and ransacked the bedroom.
The victim grabbed an ornamental machete and began swinging at Gray and the other person, striking Gray and leaving him with a large cut to the right elbow.
It was alleged the pair then fled, with the co-accused leaving his blood-soaked clothing in a nearby skip bin.
A neighbour heard the victim screaming and called police.
Officers seized a machete and two knives, other items of interest, and the clothing from the bin.
The police documents said there was a "considerable" trail of blood leading from the unit to the fire exit, which they believed would match Gray.
They also allegedly found fingerprints in the unit that belonged to the co-accused.
Police alleged that Gray and his co-accused were believed to have stolen $1700 in cash and an unknown amount of jewellery.
The victim suffered several injuries during the attack, including a punctured lung.
Meanwhile, Gray attended the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick late that same night for treatment for his injury, which he said was the result of broken glass.
He was arrested in Nowra this week and agreed to an interview.
He told police he and his co-accused went to the victim's unit to "shut him down" after hearing he had sold drugs to a 15-year-old.
Gray said the co-accused had suddenly stabbed the victim twice while they were talking to him, and then he himself also stabbed him.
He appeared at Wollongong Local Court via videolink from hospital because he had to undergo surgery to repair the damage from his injury.
In applying for bail, lawyer Claire Carpenter said Gray was advised he would need extensive physical therapy for six to 12 months as a result, and he would not have the same access to this in custody.
Ms Carpenter said he was also on "quite significant" pain medication and his injury made him physically vulnerable in custody.
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He was also vulnerable because he was Aboriginal, she said, and had mental illnesses for which he took medication.
Ms Carpenter said Gray could live with his mother in Nowra and strict bail conditions could be imposed.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Ashley Jacob opposed bail and described the allegations as "extremely serious".
Sergeant Jacob said Gray posed a significant risk to both the victim and the wider community.
He had an "extensive" record involving previous stints in prison, she said, and if found guilty of this offence he would receive a jail sentence.
The court also heard Gray was on parole at the time of the alleged offence.
Registrar Peter Ritchie said he held "grave concerns" after reading the allegations, and found Gray had not shown why he should be released.
Bail was refused and Gray will face court again on Monday.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
