David Ancans charged with performing Nazi salute in Balmain
A man already subject to court orders for offensive behaviour is unable to explain why he allegedly did a Nazi salute in an inner west Sydney shopping centre, a court has heard. Police were called to the Woolworths Balmain complex on Monday morning following reports a man was performing a Nazi salute.
Officers allegedly caught David Ancans in the act when they arrived at the Darling St location around 8.45am.
The 54-year-old man applied for bail at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday afternoon after he was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without excuse, performing a Nazi salute in public, hindering or resisting police, and behaving in an offensive manner in public.
A Commonwealth prosecutor opposed Ancans’ bail, citing that he is currently subject to a conditional release order imposed in May last year for offensive behaviour in public.
His Legal Aid solicitor Mr Pickering said his client, who is subject to a community treatment order for his mental health, was unable to explain his actions.
“He’s a mental health patient, and it’s difficult to obtain instructions,” Mr Pickering told Magistrate Ian Guy.
“He’s indicated he did not understand that (what he did) was an offence, and as to why he committed the act, which is an offence, it’s not clear to me, he was not capable of answering that.”
Ancans told Mr Guy he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizo-affective disorder and was medicated for those conditions.
Mr Guy granted Ancans conditional bail to report once a week to Balmain police, comply with all treatment required by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and to be of good behaviour.
His matter will return to court for mention on January 28.
“The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime, or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through triple-0 (000) in an emergency,” NSW Police said in a statement.