Bailey Clifford’s year of crime: Tracing a killer’s crime spree

Bailey Clifford was jailed for killing a Geelong dad earlier this month, but he was no stranger to the justice system. The Geelong Advertiser has traced the killer’s months-long 2023 crime spree. SEE THE TIMELINE

Bailey Clifford.

It began when Bailey Clifford was caught stealing from cars in Grovedale in March 2023.

Months later, the killer’s crime spree ended in September when he took the life of Paul Grapsas after the innocent father-of-three caught Clifford rummaging through his car.

In the period between, the then-18-year-old committed numerous thefts, burglaries and robberies, was confronted by victims on at least two other occasions, arrested multiple times, bailed more than once, and placed on a community corrections order.

On September 14, 2023, Clifford stabbed Mr Grapsas seven times and left him for dead in a gutter on Malone St near Western Beach, where he was found by his heavily pregnant wife, Jessica.

The 20-year-old was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for the crime with a non-parole period of five years by Justice Rita Incerti on April 16. With time served, he could be free in less than four.

Knife crime has increasingly become a hot-button issue in Geelong following a series of high-profile offences allegedly committed using knives.

But one question that became crucial when Bailey Clifford’s manslaughter case came to the Supreme Court was – where did the knife come from?

The mystery of the knife

As this was not an agreed fact at Clifford’s plea, Justice Rita Incerti had to make a ruling on the origin of the knife.

The weapon that Clifford used to kill Mr Grapsas, described by a friend of Clifford as being a fishing knife with a 15cm blade, has never been found after Clifford disposed of it in bushes by the Surf Coast Highway.

The defence asserted it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Clifford had taken the knife with him when he went looking for cars to steal from in central Geelong.

Paul Grapsas and his wife, Jessica.

It was an important distinction – as the defence noted at his plea hearing – because if he was found to have been carrying a weapon it would have been an aggravating factor.

The defence pointed to the presence of a small “utility knife” in the car, and argued Mr Grapsas, a keen fisherman, may have also kept a fishing knife in the car.

Clifford’s lawyer, barrister Moya O’Brien, submitted their was “no evidence” to support the finding that her client was carrying a knife with him.

“In light of that glove box being opened, having clearly been rifled through, clearly there being another knife, it’s been found right there in the immediate vicinity … your honour could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that that Mr Clifford had to have brought the knife with him,” Ms O’Brien argued before Justice Incerti.

Police at the scene of Paul Grapsas’ killing on Malone St. Picture: Mark Wilson

The prosecution disagreed and argued Clifford came with the knife, “prepared for confrontation it would seem in the event that that arose”.

This assertion was based on the evidence given by Clifford’s friend, who said Clifford described the knife as “his” knife, as well as Jessica Grapsas’ evidence that her husband’s fishing bag was not in the car at the time.

Nor, the prosecution argued, was there evidence it contained the type of knife Clifford used to kill Mr Grapsas.

In her sentencing remarks Justice Incerti ruled it was “not implausible” that Clifford found the knife in the car.

Clifford’s prior convictions for assault with a weapon, carrying a controlled weapon and possession of a controlled weapon were not raised by the prosecution during discissions at that point of the hearing.

These convictions formed part of offending for which Clifford was placed on a 12-month community corrections order (CCO) on June 6, 2023.

Court order, bail, bail, bail, manslaughter

In June 2023 Clifford was convicted of 22 charges including burglary – of Cotton On’s North Geelong HQ – thefts and the aforementioned weapons charges.

The assualt charge was in relation to Clifford pointing a knife at a man who caught him rummaging through a car on Clyde St in Belmont.

Less than a fortnight after he was put on the corrections order, Clifford had already been arrested twice.

He was arrested and interviewed on June 13 in relation to the theft of a mountain bike in May, and again on June 20 after police were called by residents on Grove Rd, Grovedale about a man attempting to gain access to vehicles.

Police located Clifford sitting on a large bag on the side of Barwarre Rd, wearing black gloves and a head torch.

Police on Malone St following Mr Grapsas’ death. Picture: Alison Wynd

He was in possession of stolen cards and keys, drugs, tools including hammers, a Stanley knife and a “pocket knife”.

According to a police summary released by the court last year, Clifford was taken into custody and subsequently charged with, among other offences, possessing a controlled weapon.

He was granted bail on July 11 but six days later was arrested again, after breaking into the garage of an Grovedale home.

Clifford was confronted and fled, hiding under a neighbour’s car before the homeowner and another man performed a citizens arrest.

Clifford told police he had “freaked out” upon being approached by the homeowner and ran.

That incident formed part of a crime spree from May to July 2023 that saw Clifford sentenced to four months jail in August last year.

The weapon possession charge was among eight withdrawn upon his plea.

Sentence sparks discussion

Clifford’s sentencing has sparked discussion within and without the Geelong community.

As of Sunday, more than 3700 people had signed a Change.org petition demanding a “re-evaluation” of the sentence.

Writing in support of the petition, one person who signed it said it was a “failure of our justice system to uphold the value of human life”.

“When a life is taken in such a brutal and senseless way, the punishment must reflect the gravity of the crime,” the commenter wrote.

The Office of Public Prosecutions may appeal sentences if it deems the sentence is manifestly inadequate.

Paul Grapsas' brother-in-law Tom Vandermark speaking outside Geelong Law Courts following the sentencing of Mr Grapsas killer, Bailey Clifford.

Following a sentence, the appeal period lasts for 28 days.

Speaking outside court following the sentencing, Mr Grapsas brother-in-law Tom Vandermark expressed dismay at the sentence and said the justice system was “compromised”.

“There’s something seriously and legitimately wrong with our justice system in this country, particularly in this state,” he said.

Mr Vandermark said the killing had forever robbed the family, and Geelong community, of “a loving husband and father … a beautiful friend, a contributor to the city”.

The Clifford case has put a spotlight on Victoria’s justice system, at a time when the state government has been toughening bail and knife laws.

Last month, Australia’s first machete ban made it’s way through Victoria’s parliament, giving police greater powers and banning the weapons from September 1.

Geelong’s knife crime wave

The stabbing death of Mr Grapsas sent shockwaves through the Geelong community, but it was one episode in a continuing stream of violent knife crime that has continued to the present day.
On Easter Sunday, a man in his 20s was rushed to hospital in a serious condition following a stabbing on Solar Dr in Whittington.

Two other men, in their 20s and 30s, were also taken to hospital.

Just days earlier, a man was hospitalised after allegedly being stabbed in Norlane on April 18.

Last month, a 25-year-old Armstrong Creek man was left fighting for life after being stabbed on Verner St in East Geelong.

A little over a year after Paul Grapsas was stabbed to death, Jayme Sykes was fatally stabbed in central Geelong. ,

Earlier in March, it was revealed a concerned parent pulled his son from Geelong High after another student allegedly held a knife to his son’s throat, while a couple were allegedly threatened by a knife-wielding man in January on Hughes St in North Geelong.

In February, a New Zealand national was stabbed to death in an upstairs room of the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel.

It was the second alleged murder in four months, after Jayme “Chugs” Sykes was fatally stabbed on Little Malop St in the early hours of October 27 last year.

Following Mr Sykes’ death, the Geelong Advertiser looked into the numbers behind the issue of knife crime in Geelong.

According to Victoria’s Crime Statistics Agency, there were 463 prohibited and controlled weapon offences in the 2023-24 financial year in Greater Geelong, up from 388 in 2022-23.

Controlled and prohibited weapons classifications include types of knives.

Originally published as Bailey Clifford’s year of crime: Tracing a killer’s crime spree