Raecin Wood, 29: Man allegedly armed with knives chased another man out of Balgowlah window

A Sydney man being chased by another allegedly carrying knives and threatening to kill him had to leap from a first floor window to escape, a court has heard.

A man leapt from a first floor window at Balgowlah to escape a man, allegedly armed with knives, who was threatening to kill him early on Thursday morning, Manly Local Court was told. Picture: Monique Harmer

A northern beaches’ man was forced to leap from a first floor window to escape a knife-wielding man allegedly threatening to kill him, Manly Local Court has heard.

Raecin James Wood, 29, of Chippendale, allegedly swung the weapons at the alleged victim while he chased him through Balgowlah early on Thursday morning.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss was told that the alleged victim, who was known to Wood, had to quickly scale a fence, after jumping from the window, to dodge the alleged 5am attack.

Wood was charged with one count of being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

During an application to be released on bail on Thursday afternoon, Wood’s Legal Aid solicitor told the court that her client advised he was not armed during the alleged incident.

View of Sydney Rd, Balgowlah, looking towards Seaforth. File picture: Annika Enderborg

“He certainly denies the knives,” the solicitor said.

But in opposing bail, the police prosecutor alleged that a number of witnesses, including police officers called to the scene, saw Wood with a knife.

“(Wood) was swinging a knife towards the victim, nearly hitting him,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor argued that if Wood was released on bail, he would remain a “substantial danger” to potential witnesses and the general community.

Magistrate Reiss was told that Wood was being treated for schizophrenia and was the subject of a current mental health care plan.

In denying bail, Mr Reiss described the alleged actions of Wood as “bizarre and troubling” behaviour.

“They are a very, very, disturbing set of facts,” he said.

Mr Reiss said that granting Wood bail would be an “unacceptable risk” to the community and the alleged victim.

Wood, who is yet to enter a plea, will be back in Manly court for mention on March 18.