Noah John McKinlay’s serious assault of Mackay grandma revealed

A former apprentice baker was barely in the door of his new home when his grandmother’s decision to remove his hat ended in a violent confrontation with a knife.

A 20-year-old man threatened to stab his grandma with a kitchen knife after she removed his hat.

A young Mackay man was getting ready to move back home from crisis accommodation when he attacked his grandmother, threatening to stab her for removing his hat.

Noah John McKinlay, 20, had been staying in Kaylan Youth Crisis accommodation when he was invited to move back in with his family, first meeting on December 20, 2024 to discuss house rules with his 76-year-old grandma.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard McKinlay had an extensive criminal record including aggravated robbery, threatening police and several counts of common assault.

The court also heard he had a history of domestic offences.

When McKinlay returned home his grandmother asked that he remove his hat and when he refused, she took it off him at which point he wrapped her in a bear hug and held her face-to-face with him.

The court heard the grandmother then, as a reflex, bit McKinlay on the face and he took her belongings, including her mobile phone and said “(I’ll) f**ing stab you” while holding a large kitchen knife.

McKinlay’s grandmother stood her ground and said, “do it then”.

When police arrived at the scene they noted bruising on the grandmother.

Defence lawyer Laura Santin said McKinlay left school in Grade 3 and was a methamphetamine user by the age of 11.

“He struggles to read and write but since he’s been in custody he’s tried working towards learning to read and write,” Ms Santin said.

She also told the court her client and his mother moved to Mackay in 2022 for a fresh start and he previously worked as an apprentice at Brumby’s bakery.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said McKinlay should receive a sentence of 18 months' imprisonment for the “despicable” assault against his grandmother.

“That’s a very serious charge … it involves threats, the use of a knife,” Ms Hartigan said.

“There was a big disparity in size between the two of you and you have, pretty much, a criminal history in Queensland wholly made up of domestic offending.”

The court McKinlay also threatened to cut his mother with an axe on December 26, 2024 and when police arrived they saw he was armed with a large carving knife.

“When police came you were highly uncooperative,” Ms Hartigan said.

McKinlay pleaded guilty to a charge of serious assault of a person over the age of 60 and one charge of obstructing a police officer.

Ms Hartigan said he should be “ashamed” by what he did to his grandmother, sentenced him to 18 months’ jail and set a parole release date of April 17, 2025.

“You can’t read or write, and I take that into account the penalty has to try and rehabilitate you,” Ms Hartigan said.

“Now is your opportunity to turn things around.”

McKinlay’s mum, who was present in court, told him she would drive down to Capricornia Correctional Centre and pick him up.

McKinlay thanked Ms Hartigan and said, “I know you could have given me a lot of a longer time”.

“I really hope you can turn it around because you’re very young and have your whole future ahead of you,” she replied.

Ms Hartigan declared 112 days in pre-sentence custody from December 26, 2024 to April 16 2025 as time served and convictions were recorded.