Commotion in court as man accused of attacking imam denied bail

A man accused of attacking an Islamic religious leader in a road rage incident has tried to jump out of the dock after being refused bail.

Brendan Nicholls, 23, made the application in Dandenong Magistrates Court today after being charged with criminal damage and assault.

It's alleged Nicholls and a 22-year-old Cranbourne East man abused Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday.

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Police say the couple were travelling along the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South about 7.40pm when the occupants of a small black hatchback allegedly targeted them.

The couple's vehicle was boxed in and the accused allegedly drove dangerously to intimidate them before getting out and kicking the imam's car.

Imam Purdic was allegedly punched in the face while his wife was called a "Muslim b---" during the incident, the court was told.

Bystanders intervened before the accused allegedly returned to their vehicle and fled.

Nicholls and his co-accused were arrested in Dandenong South on Sunday and charged with criminal damage and common assault.

The 22-year-old man was bailed to appear at court in May, while Nicholls briefly faced Dandenong Magistrates Court yesterday.

His bail application was adjourned to today as he was withdrawing from drugs and was unfit to see a magistrate.

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Today, Detective Senior Constable Courtney Milner told the court Nicholls was also facing separate allegations of choking a woman.

It's alleged he attacked the woman in December, choking her twice until she felt faint and dizzy.

The detective said Nicholls was an immediate risk to the woman's safety and no bail conditions could alleviate those concerns.

But Nicholls' lawyer said his client should be bailed because he had available treatment for drug and anger issues through the court-integrated services program.

Nicholls could also live with his mother in stable accommodation at a Dandenong South caravan park, the lawyer said.

But Det Sen Const Milner raised concerns about the address, saying the co-accused from Saturday's incident also lived in the same caravan park.

Magistrate Hugh Radford also flagged that as an issue as he refused Nicholls' bail application.

He accepted it was Nicholls' first time in custody and the CISP program would assist him if released.

But Radford said Nicholls would be facing a jail term if convicted, noting the choking allegations were relatively strong and the alleged attack on the imam was concerning.

There was commotion in the court as the magistrate handed down his decision, with Nicholls swearing and trying to jump out of the dock.

His mother ran to him but the guards pulled him from the courtroom.

Nicholls was remanded in custody to return to court in February.

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).