Robert Davis, who is also known as Shaheed Muhammed Abdul Malik, is on bail as he awaits an appeal to have a custodial term overturned on severity grounds.

Davis had posted a $1500 cash surety to secure his release.

He was also banned from leaving the state and entering international departure points, such as airports.

In Armidale Local Court on Monday defence solicitor Patrick Kennedy asked to have his client’s bail variation application cancelled.

“The matter is listed for district court on the 22nd [of March],” he said.

Magistrate Karen Stafford, who is filling in this week for Magistrate Michael Holmes, agreed to the request.

“The bail application is withdrawn and dismissed,” Magistrate Stafford said. 

Last month Davis was sentenced to nine months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

He was jailed following the sentence hearing, however, he was released on bail the following day after his legal team launched a severity appeal.

The charges were laid after the 47-year-old claimed $58,761 in Centrelink payments under his alternative name.

Davis told the court four of his six children lived with him in Armidale, and he used the fraud money to support them.

“I wasn’t initially using the two different names with fraudulent intentions,” he said. 

 “I stopped doing it for a while where I could.

“I felt guilty. 

“I know right from wrong.”

Davis had previously volunteered in Sydney as a mentor for at-risk youth.

 He told the court he was unable to work in his usual capacity in the construction industry because of a back injury sustained in 2013. 

So far the former mentor had been repaying his debt and had repaid $2000. 

 “I’ve still been paying … $60 per fortnight,” Davis said. 

In handing down his sentence Magistrate Holmes said he did not think Davis had been motivated by need for his family.

“In this case, I use the word greed,” he said.