Man sentenced over online threats made against Richmond player Dylan Grimes

A man who emailed online threats to Richmond star Dylan Grimes telling him to “die” has faced court.

A man who made online threats against Richmond player Dylan Grimes has been sentenced. Picture: Michael Klein

An Essendon fan has been labelled a “keyboard warrior” and ordered to write an apology letter to AFL player Dylan Grimes over “repugnant” online threats.

Andrew Shaun Alexander, 54, fronted a virtual hearing at Ringwood Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he was given a chance on a six-month good behaviour bond.

Magistrate David Starvaggi warned him if he slipped up, he could face jail.

“This is both repugnant, repulsive and abhorrent behaviour,” Mr Starvaggi said.

“In your case, with your age and lack of priors, I’ve decided to give you one opportunity, and one opportunity only.

“If you ever engage in this sort of conduct again, you could be subjected to a term of imprisonment.”

He ordered Alexander write a “genuine letter of apology reflecting the seriousness of what has occurred” to Grimes and his family.

Alexander must also donate $1000 to children’s charity, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

Victoria Police raided Alexander’s Mitcham home, seizing his phone and laptop, before charging him with stalking and using a telecommunications device to menace and harass in August.

Alexander had fired off five emails to Grimes and his wife Elisha — through their Mount Macedon Winery business website — after becoming “disgruntled” at umpires awarding a controversial free kick to Grimes that would see Richmond beat Essendon in its round 13 clash in Darwin on August 22.

“Dylan Grimes, you are farked. Staging for free kicks you farking wimp carnt. Die mofo,” one of the messages sent at 10.28pm on August 24 read.

Another simply said: “Tell Dylan Grimes he’s f---ed.”

He later filled out the “Contact Us” page on the winery website, writing “death threats” when prompted to answer how he had heard about the company.

An analysis on his laptop found he had also searched the internet for “Dylan grimes address”, “Dylan grimes wife” and “Dylan grimes winery”.

When Alexander told Mr Starvaggi he did not know what a keyboard warrior was, the magistrate detailed how it was “someone who sits at the computer and types away and tries to conceal their identity”.

“In your case, you are not very good at it,” Mr Starvaggi said.

Mr Starvaggi said such “torrid abuse” caused emotional distress and psychological harm to the recipients.

Alexander’s excuse to police for his actions included “I’d been drinking all afternoon” and “all the Essendon supporters were carrying on and I thought oh, I better get involved in that.”

If he is of good behaviour, writes the apology letter and makes the donation — all by June 21 next year — the charges will be struck out and he will not have a conviction against his name.

Following his arrest, Grimes, 29, thanked Victoria Police for protecting his family’s welfare.

He said he went to the police over the threats as they went way beyond the “normal post-game banter”.

“We were concerned for the safety of my family back home in Victoria,” Grimes said from his Gold Coast hub, where he was based due to COVID-19.

“It’s not right for anyone, including players and their families, to have their safety threatened.”