Illawarra realtor Robert Grubb tried to buy boat to leave Australia before sex touching trial: Crown

A real estate agent facing allegations he sexually touched a teenage girl has had his bail revoked after attempting to buy a boat capable of voyaging to another jurisdiction, a court has heard.

Robert Grubb had his bail revoked in Wollongong District Court on Friday.

A real estate agent facing allegations he sexually touched a teenage girl has had his bail revoked after attempting to buy a boat capable of voyaging to another jurisdiction, a court has heard.

Robert Brian Grubb, the long-time director of Professionals Real Estate, was arrested in August, 2023, and charged with a string of offences allegedly committed against a 17-year-old girl.

The 60-year-old previously pleaded not guilty to sexual touching without consent, aggravated sexual touching without consent and recording an intimate image without consent and was due to stand trial in Wollongong District Court this month. However, the Crown was granted an application to have the case relisted for mid-2025.

Grubb had been on bail until Friday when the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions lodged a detention application before Judge David Arnott.

In court, ODPP solicitor Ashley Bird submitted Grubb was “trying to purchase a much larger vessel for blue water boating to leave Australia”.

Robert Grubb owns a small wooden boat moored at Wollongong’s Belmore Basin. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The court had heard Grubb currently owned a small wooden boat moored at Belmore Basin in Wollongong, however, it was incapable of traversing the open seas.

Grubb had contacted yacht brokers Multihull Central in late October about purchasing a vessel capable of being manned by one person and suitable to accommodate his two dogs.

There were multiple exchanges between Grubb and Multihull Central where the accused discussed wanting a vessel capable of circumnavigating Australia and open ocean sailing.

The court heard in the days after his trial was delayed Grubb told the brokers he had a Bitcoin windfall and inquired about purchasing a boat as soon as possible.

He was informed the soonest one of the options he was interested in would be ready was September, 2025.

Robert Grubb will stand trial in 2025.

When handing down his decision, Judge Arnott outlined the Crown case against Grubb which included the accused driving the girl to his address in Woonona.

The court heard Grubb allegedly gave the girl a cocktail of coke and “alcoholic raspberry drink” while making sexual remarks.

Grubb allegedly asked if the girl had tried bondage, but she was uncomfortable answering.

Judge Arnott said the girl allegedly consumed more drugs and alcohol before passing out and waking up in Grubb’s bed.

The court heard the accused, who was wearing a black “SWAT” G-string, allegedly had the tip of his penis against her vagina and was filming the act.

About a week later, police raided Grubb’s home where they allegedly found the G-string as well as cocaine, ecstasy and prohibited weapons.

Defence barrister Matthew Barnes submitted it was not an offence to inquire about purchasing a boat.

He said Grubb’s bail conditions, which include a $20,000 surety and the surrendering of his passport, could be tightened to include a condition he not inquire about purchasing a boat.

Judge Arnott agreed with the Crown that such a condition would be difficult to enforce.

“It is a rather unusual circumstance to inquire about a boat to leave Australia at this particular time with his trial looming,” the judge said as he revoked Grubb’s conditional liberty.

“My conclusion is there is a real risk he was planning to leave the country and not attend his trial.”

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