Joel Alexander Grimes: Man who chased neighbour with a carving knife to be sentenced

A 33-year-old man who chased his neighbour with a knife before throwing a brick at his partner’s car appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. Find out what happened.

A Mangerton man who chased his neighbour with a carving knife was committed for sentence in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

Joel Alexander Grimes, 33, appeared in person where he pleaded guilty to being armed with the intent to commit an indictable offence and destroying or damaging property.

The confronting incident occurred at around 6pm on Thursday, July 21, last year when the victim, who knew Grimes as ‘Grimsey’, was cooking on the barbecue at the back of his Johanson Cres unit in Mangerton.

Grimes yelled “F*** you c***, court is accusing me of raping your missus” – the victim turned and saw his neighbour coming towards him wearing a black balaclava all the while two other men were standing 20 metres further back.

Joel Alexander Grimes chased his neighbour with a carving knife. Picture: Facebook

As Grimes moved closer, the victim saw him holding a large carving knife and said “Hey, what are you doing? Take it easy man … What are you doing with a knife?”.

The victim bolted, jumping onto his first-floor balcony as Grimes gave chase.

The victim’s partner was inside preparing a meal and went to the front door once she’d heard the commotion.

She managed to lock the screen door just as Grimes got to the front of the unit.

“I’m calling the police,” the partner yelled which led Grimes to run to the back of the block towards the car park.

One of their neighbours witnessed the shocking event unfold as they puffed away at a cigarette on their front porch.

As police were called, the couple heard a smashing against their laundry window and when they went to look they saw a brick had been thrown at the partner’s car.

Joel Alexander Grimes will be sentenced in July. Picture: Facebook

Shortly after 8am on August 20, detectives attended Grimes’ unit and placed him under arrest.

“I’ve been having trouble with those c**** for weeks,” Grimes told the police.

He wouldn’t allow police to access his phone because: “There’s stuff on there I don’t want you to have”.

Police seized a black-handled knife fitting the victim’s description in Grimes’ kitchen as well two vials of testosterone, an Optus mobile phone and a 85cm tall cannabis plant.

In court on Wednesday, Magistrate Claire Girotto amended Grimes’ bail conditions to allow him to return to his unit to clean it up after he told her pigeons had infiltrated it.

However, he will not be allowed to stay at the Johansen Cres address.

Grimes will return to Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, July 20 for sentencing.