Grady Paul Grant: Arrested for vicious assault on bystander who came to woman’s aid

This island tradie hid in a wardrobe after a vicious assault at a southeast Queensland island home.

A drunk tradie who bit a man’s finger down to the bone when he tried to protect a distressed woman had only recently been sentenced for drink driving, a court has heard.

Former Kilcoy, now North Stradbroke Island, man Grady Paul Grant, 26, pleaded guilty to assaults occasioning bodily harm; three counts of obstructing police and possessing dangerous drugs when he fronted Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard a drunk and yelling Grant refused to leave a young North Stradbroke Island woman’s property at 10.20pm on Tuesday November 3 when two men came to the distressed resident’s assistance.

Grady Paul Grant, 26, was sentenced to 12 months' probation for his "reprehensible" assault. Picture: Facebook.

According to police, Grant assaulted both men, biting one of them on the finger “down to the bone”.

When police arrived, the court heard, they were confronted by an “aggressive and violent” Grant.

Undeterred by their presence the defendant proceeded to wrestle an officer’s pepper spray off him after a discharge which had little effect.

The court heard Grant then ran off into nearby bushes and was eventually found hiding in a wardrobe.

Due to the risk of injury posed by the still “aggressive and violent” defendant officers presented a taser, according to police.

A single tablet of amphetamine was found on his person.

A police prosecutor said biting or spitting behaviour was treated seriously under the law and carried a potential prison sentence.

It was further revealed that Grant, who had a criminal history dating back to when he was 17 (and then still regarded as an adult), had been sentenced for drink driving not long before the disgusting incident.

Grant leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court.

“He has a problem with grog,” a police prosecutor said.

Prosecutors submitted that an 18-month probation sentence and an order to pay $500 in compensation to his bite victim would be appropriate.

Defence solicitor Sarah Pascoe said her client was “incredibly remorseful”, had committed no further offences since the incident and had stable work on the island where he earned up to $2,000 a week.

Ms Pascoe said Grant had been charged with stealing for having taken the officer’s pepper spray and described the injuries to his victim as minor.

“Although there were injuries, they were limited and minor in nature,” she said.

A nine to 12-month probation order was deemed appropriate by the defence, who submitted numerous personal references describing their client’s “otherwise good character”.

Acting Magistrate Deborah Turner expressed her disgust at Grant’s “reprehensible behaviour” and noted the young woman whom he had disturbed would have been “particularly distressed”.

Grant was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and ordered to pay his bite victim $500 in compensation.