Real estate agent charged with doorway stabbing of Sydney mum has charge dismissed

A real estate charged with stabbing a woman in the chest has been sent to rehab.

Matthew Ramsay was released from Parklea. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

A former high-flying real estate agent who is accused of stabbing a woman in the chest in a brazen attack in broad daylight has had a prior charge of theft dismissed on mental health grounds.

Matthew Brian Ramsay did not appear at Waverley Local Court on Monday as he was being released from Parklea Correctional Centre and taken to rehab.

The 46-year-old made national headlines after he allegedly stabbed a woman in the chest after she answered the door of her $4.5m Dover Heights home on August 8.

Police allege he plunged a 20cm knife into the chest of the mother-of-two in broad daylight while her husband and children were out of the house.

Former real estate agent Matthew Ramsay had a charge of shoplifting dismissed.

The matter was first mentioned less than 24 hours after his arrest, where it was revealed Mr Ramsay had previously been charged with shoplifting $31 worth of snacks and flavoured milk from a petrol station.

Mr Ramsay did not appear at the court on Monday as his lawyer said his client was suffering “significant mental health” issues for years.

The court was told Mr Ramsay could not appear as he was being transferred from custody to his rehabilitation centre.

Magistrate Ross Hudson dismissed the charge on the condition Mr Ramsay maintain his treatment for mental health with a psychiatrist.

It comes after the 46-year-old was granted bail in the same court on Friday.

During the hearing, it was revealed he “didn’t want to hurt” the woman but “just wanted to scare her” before he allegedly plunged the knife into her chest.

Mr Ramsay made national headlines in August after he was charged with stabbing. Picture: 7 News

The court heard he said “I’m really sorry” before he allegedly caused the 4cm puncture wound very close to her heart.

Mr Ramsay was arrested a short time later at the traffic lights on Campbell Parade in Bondi Beach.

The 46-year-old told police he hadn’t intended to wound the woman, the court heard, allegedly telling officers: “I didn’t mean to hurt her, I just wanted to scare her.”

The court was told on Friday Mr Ramsay had taken 120mg of Valium before approaching her.

Defence lawyer Ben Clark told the court it would be best for Mr Ramsay to be released on bail to a “particularly vigorous” rehabilitation facility.

The court heard the former real estate agent would be under “house arrest” at the Global Connect rehabilitation facility and would not be permitted to leave.

He would also not be allowed to communicate with the outside world and would be subject to random drug and alcohol tests regularly.

Magistrate Ross Hudson said Mr Ramsay was medicating himself with alcohol for depression and determined treatment would best further the case and granted Mr Ramsay strict conditional bail.

Mr Ramsay will remain at the facility for at least six months. He is likely to interact with another well-known inhabitant, former TV personality Andrew O’Keefe.

He will return to Waverley Local Court on October 19.