Raymond Coffin: Geraldton man accused of assaulting mum while she waited for child’s dance lessons to finish

A man accused of assaulting a mum while she waited for her child to finish a dance class has been refused bail. Raymond Arnold Coffin, 33, of Geraldton, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court from custody on Tuesday after forensics matched him to a fingerprint at the scene of an attempted robbery. About 8.25pm on Thursday, September 19, a woman was sitting in her car and scrolling on her mobile phone waiting for her child to finish dance lessons on Rifle Range Road in Rangeway when Mr Coffin allegedly approached and banged on the driver’s side window multiple times, the court was told. Police prosecutor Sgt Michael Semp said Mr Coffin opened the door and asked the woman questions, saying “you don’t want to f*** with me” and “you know who I am”. He said he shaped his hand into a gun and pointed his finger firmly on her forehead, causing her to cry in fear and beg for him to stop. The court heard the accused also tried to steal her mobile phone and her keys from the ignition of the car, but she was able to get to them first. Mr Coffin made punching movements until his punches landed, hitting her in the cheek and body, the prosecution said. When another vehicle stopped to assist, the court heard the woman closed and locked the door before running inside the dance studio for help, staying there until the police arrived. Sgt Semp told the court a single fingerprint on the driver’s side window linked Mr Coffin to the scene, as well as CCTV in the area. Geraldton detectives charged Mr Coffin with assault with intent to rob. He did not enter pleas. Defence lawyer Melissa Roycroft said her client had a “comprehensive” alibi and was on a different street at the time of the assault. “One would expect there to be further evidence as opposed to just a single fingerprint,” she said. But Mr Walton refused bail. “A fingerprint is an incredibly powerful piece of identification … it is such a powerful piece of evidence,” he said. Mr Coffin was remanded in custody to reappear on November 25.