Brandon John Serafin-Gray pleads guilty to offences after Bundaberg knife attacks

Chilling details of how a crazed knifeman, who once had prospects of playing with the Brisbane Lions, sent people “running down the streets screaming for their lives”, have been revealed.

A young football player, who had prospects of playing with the Brisbane Lions, spiralled into drug use before going on a “deplorable” knife rampage in Bundaberg.

Brandon John Serafin-Gray pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court to one count of deprivation of liberty, three counts of going armed to cause fear, two counts of threats of violence, one count of common assault and one count of unlawful entry of a vehicle.

His actions were so terrifying, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Dean Burgess said that in 15 years “this is one of the worst – if not the worst – case I have dealt with in magistrates court.”

Serafin-Gray had grown up in a good home in Brisbane before getting involved with drugs, the court heard.

Told he wasn’t welcome at his parental home unless he stopped abusing substances, Serafin-Gray headed to Bundaberg where he unleashed on the public while high on oxycodone.

The terrifying incidents on April 23, 2022, involved attacks on two teenagers and a woman in the early hours of the morning, while it was still dark.

The court heard the 29-year-old, who appeared from custody via videolink, had chased two teenagers, asking a 16-year-old girl if she was his sister before threatening her with a knife as she was forced to walk with him.

The girl and boy flagged down a passing ambulance for help.

Hours later, Serafin-Gray slid a knife down the back of a woman's leg.

Serafin-Gray then got in the passenger seat of the woman’s vehicle, causing her to flee and call police.

In putting forward an argument for a three-year prison sentence, police prosecutor Sergeant Dean Burgess described people running down the streets of Bundaberg, fearful for their lives and not knowing if they’d make it back home.

While victim impact statements were not submitted to the court, Sgt Burgess referenced a statement to police in which the teenage girl said: “I thought my life would end”.

Sgt Burgess also described the psychological injury on the man’s other female victim.

“To place yourself in that position, you should understand how fearful she would have been, for a man, Serafin-Gray, walking around with a knife …,” he said.

“The knife at the back of the leg, your honour, it gives me chills.

“There’s three victims, people running down the streets at night screaming for their lives, not knowing if they’re going home.”

Serafin-Gray’s lawyer said the prosecution’s claims that victims of the defendant’s attacks would have trauma for the rest of their lives could not be taking into account due to the absence of victim impact statements.

It was heard the accused had a “good upbringing” and a future with the Brisbane Lions, and that he’d only starting using drugs after becoming involved with a woman who used them.

His parents, the court heard, would only be willing to take him back after his time in jail if the court ordered a period of “extensive supervision”.

Serafin-Gray did not remember the events of the night.

Magistrate John McInnes noted Serafin-Grey had “been wandering around, in the evening, with a knife, engaging in explicable and therefore quite frightening behaviours …”

The knife attacks were all “prolonged” and while there was little physical damage, the psychological damage was of concern.

Mr McInnes told Serafin-Gray “when you take drugs, bad things happen … clearly, you’re just not someone who can tolerate them well”.

The court heard Serafin-Gray had a criminal history involving public nuisance offences and two assaults.

He was sentenced to a head prison term of two years and six months, with a nine-month non-parole period.

His parole release date was set at January 23, 2023.