A Melbourne man stomped on the face of a cabbie and repeatedly kicked him in the head in a savage, unprovoked attack at a service station, a court has heard.
Stewart Siwek, 37, faces a range of charges including intentionally causing serious injury, assault by kicking, criminal damage and reckless conduct endangering life over the June 1 attack.
Detective Senior Constable Alex Lewis told a bail hearing on Tuesday that Siwek grabbed a windscreen washer, struck the victim's cab with it and threw it at him as the driver refuelled the taxi in suburban Spotswood.
The driver did not react aggressively at any stage, he said.
Det Sen Const Lewis told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Siwek kicked the driver's side mirror and window until the driver went to check the damage.
He said the driver ducked a punch from Siwek but was kneed or kicked in the face, knocking him unconscious, then Siwek repeatedly kicked him, stomped once on his face and broke the mirror and window before leaving.
The driver suffered facial bruising, a cut lip and bruises to the back of his head.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Tania Fox said Siwek was an unacceptable risk for bail because he was likely to reoffend.
Defence counsel Stephen Devlin said Siwek had been confined in police station cells, mainly in Ballarat, since his arrest on June 2, making a full psychiatric assessment impossible.
A preliminarily examination indicated Siwek suffers paranoid personality disorder. He has an alcohol problem and may have acquired brain injuries from an earlier assault and a fall into a crevasse, he said.
"The community will be better protected if this man is properly assessed and treated," Mr Devlin said.
Magistrate Jelena Popovic on Tuesday granted Siwek bail saying his courtroom behaviour indicated he needed assessment and treatment.
"I am concerned about your client's demeanour. He appears to be completely disengaged from these proceedings. I don't know if it is a coping mechanism but it is very concerning," she said.
Siwek, of Spotswood, must report daily to police, reside with his mother, not leave Victoria, not contact witnesses, abstain from alcohol and comply with any police request for a breath test.
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