David Johnson, 35, had been in custody since September 3 when he allegedly brandished a tomahawk at his victim.

Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court heard he had a three-year history of violence towards his ex-partner.

Senior Constable Phil Barnden, of the Wangaratta family violence unit, said Johnson approached the woman and her father at a Melbourne tram stop after a Family Court case.

“The victims had waited deliberately for 30 minutes with their barrister to avoid any conflict or confrontation with the accused,” he said.

Johnson was charged with breaching an intervention order, but just three days later he again followed the woman in his car.

Police allege he raised the tomahawk in a threatening gesture to her, but he claimed the axe was always in his car.

Senior Constable Barnden said Johnson resisted arrest when approached by police and  continued his anger on remand in the cells.

A police cell extraction team was required to take the aggressive prisoner to the dentist.

“If he is released, he is quite likely to reoffend – we’re seeing a pattern where his behaviour is escalating,” Senior Constable Barnden said.

“We’re at a point where it has become difficult to know what to do to stop Mr Johnson offending.”

Barrister Charles Morgan said police had been concerned about Johnson’s ice use, but he had not failed a drug test since he had started a Corrections order.

“The two matters of allegedly breaching an intervention order are essentially ‘he said, she said’,” Mr Morgan said.

“It’s a very weak case.”

Magistrate John O’Callaghan said it was unfair to “warehouse” the prisoner until his hearing and imposed strict conditions including daily reporting to police and a curfew.

“(Police) think you are a violent person with a shocking temper, shocking regard for authority and, worse, a shocking attitude towards your former partner,” he said.

“Bail is granted and to say otherwise is to say Mr Johnson is beyond redemption.”