<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brendan Nicholls, 23, made the application in Dandenong Magistrates </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="Court"><span>Court</span></a><span> today after being charged with criminal damage and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/assault" rel="" target="" title="assault"><span>assault</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's alleged Nicholls and a 22-year-old Cranbourne East man abused Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne's"><span>Melbourne's</span></a><span> south-east on Saturday.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/attempted-break-in-at-winchelsea-cfa-fire-brigade/486bd999-6fec-49b9-80cd-9285eedb0932" target="_blank"><strong><span>Victorian fire station targeted in 'truly heartbreaking' attempted break-in amid reports of looting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Imam Purdic was allegedly punched in the face while his wife was called a "Muslim b---" during the incident, the court was told.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/commotion-in-court-as-accused-imam-attacker-denied-bail/9936aea5-da3f-4168-a071-245947b80034" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bystanders intervened before the accused allegedly returned to their vehicle and fled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nicholls and his co-accused were arrested in Dandenong South on Sunday and charged with criminal damage and common assault.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 22-year-old man was bailed to appear at court in May, while Nicholls briefly faced Dandenong Magistrates Court yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His bail application was adjourned to today as he was withdrawing from drugs and was unfit to see a magistrate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/eloise-worledge-1-million-dollar-reward-announcement-missing-eight-year-old-beaumaris-melbourne-victoria/2b0e7645-527f-4862-ae2a-463c1156a454" target="_blank"><strong><span>Million-dollar reward over Melbourne girl's disappearance 50 years ago</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, Detective Senior Constable Courtney Milner told the court Nicholls was also facing separate allegations of choking a woman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's alleged he attacked the woman in December, choking her twice until she felt faint and dizzy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The detective said Nicholls was an immediate risk to the woman's safety and no bail conditions could alleviate those concerns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nicholls could also live with his mother in stable accommodation at a Dandenong South caravan park, the lawyer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Magistrate Hugh Radford also flagged that as an issue as he refused Nicholls' bail application.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He accepted it was Nicholls' first time in custody and the CISP program would assist him if released.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was commotion in the court as the magistrate handed down his decision, with Nicholls swearing and trying to jump out of the dock.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His mother ran to him but the guards pulled him from the courtroom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nicholls was remanded in custody to return to court in February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong></a><strong><span> 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div>