Aidan James Ellison, Caitlin Grainger in Taree court for drug-fuelled assault

A drill was held inches away from a woman’s face after a couple forced their way into a Mid-North Coast home demanding drugs, a court has heard.

Aidan James Ellison and Caitlin Grainger.

In what a Mid-North Coast magistrate described as “something out of Pulp Fiction” a working drill was held dangerously close to a woman’s face during a couple’s crazed search for drugs.

Aidan James Ellison and Caitlin Grainger appeared for sentencing in Taree Local Court before Magistrate Allison Hawkins on Monday, May 22.

Charges including assault and using an offensive weapon stem from a terrifying incident in Taree on the night of June 4 last year, when the couple forced their way into a home demanding “who has all the drugs?”.

Caitlin Grainger.

Grainger, who was 24 at the time, spent six months remanded in custody following her arrest but was later granted bail – an opportunity she “grabbed with both hands” to get clean her lawyer told the court.

The Lambton woman has had a traumatic childhood with her “nan” a stabilising influence at certain times in her life, and who she has been living with while on bail, the court heard.

Ellison, 31, spent just over five months remanded in custody following the incident, but was later granted bail with the condition he stay away from Taree.

His lawyer told the court he was the subject of violence and spent time in hospital during his time remanded in custody at Kempsey.

He has since found work with a removalist company in Newcastle, according to documents tendered to court.

On the night of the incident, Grainger and Ellison, along with two other co-accused, went to a Taree home in search of drugs.

Ellison drove Grainger’s black Astra hatchback and they started yelling out to the occupants, demanding drugs, when they arrived.

Aidan James Ellison.

When one of the occupants came to the door and showed he had empty pockets, Ellison punched him twice in the left jaw.

The victim fell back into the hallway and the co-accused walked into the house, continuing to demand drugs.

Grainger picked up an electric drill belonging to one of the occupants and held it up an inch away from another woman’s face.

The drill bit was spinning so close to her face the victim could feel the air disturbed by the tool, according to documents tendered to court.

The female victim’s 10-year-old child was hiding in another bedroom at the time.

Grainger then went to another room in search of drugs and confronted an occupant, who was naked after taking a shower.

Ellison said “cover up, my missus is here” according to documents tendered to court.

At one point, Grainger used a pair of gold scissors to threaten one of the victims, who suffered a cut to the hand when he tried to remove them from her.

police were called after the co-accused left and the pair were arrested a short time later.

‘You were going to go in today’

Rather than sentencing Grainger, Ms Hawkins decided to adjourn the matter for her to provide further evidence that she was clean of drugs.

“You were going to go in today – look behind you” she said in reference to the court sheriffs on hand to take offenders into custody if they are sent to prison.

“These men in blue are here waiting for you,” she said.

Ms Hawkins said “testing is where the story is at” for Grainger.

She adjourned the case to July 17 in relation to two charges of using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence and one charge of remaining in a building with the intent to commit an indictable offence.

Charges of aggravated robbery and going armed with intent were withdrawn.

Ms Hawkins told the court Grainger’s sentencing assessment report showed she “shifted the blame to the victims” and “still sees a future with Mr Ellison”.

The “violent rampage” was like “something out of Pulp Fiction”, Ms Hawkins said.

“Life it not a movie – this is not glamorous,” she said.

For two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of remaining in a building with the intent to commit an indictable offence, Ellison was handed an 18-month intensive corrections order. He was also ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

Ellison was also sentenced for low-range drink driving (three month suspension and $500 fine) and driving while his licence application was refused (six month suspension).

He was arrested after being found driving Grainger’s car in the hours following the incident.