A KURRI Kurri man accused of being involved in an assault on staff at a Pokolbin hotel last month will spend Christmas behind bars after he was refused bail in Cessnock Local Court.
Jonathon Allan O'Neile, 32, appeared in court in handcuffs on Friday charged with affray, intimidating police, excluded person failing to leave premises and excluded person remaining in the vicinity of licensed premises.
He did not enter any pleas, but made an application to be released on conditional bail, which was refused by Magistrate Andrew Miller.
The matter was adjourned until January 19 for police to serve the brief of evidence against Mr O'Neile.
Hunter Valley police say they have been investigating an alleged assault that occurred at a Pokolbin hotel on Saturday November 13.
Police have been told three men attempted to enter the pub but were refused entry.
Police allege that staff members were then threatened by members of the group before they were kicked and punched by one of the men.
Following inquiries, police arrested Mr O'Neile at a home on Mitchell Avenue at Kurri Kurri on Thursday and charged him with four offences.
Affray, the most serious charge Mr O'Neile faces, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, while the licensed premises charges are fine only offences.
Police said another man allegedly involved in the assault remains behind bars after he was charged at an earlier date.
That man is next due to appear in Maitland Local Court in February.
