Taste Of Freedom Delivers Hard Lesson For Inmate
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday August 12, 2003
A FEW seconds of relative freedom could cost a jail inmate 10 years inside the `big house'.
A minimum security inmate at the prisoner-friendly St Heliers Correctional Facility at Musellbrook has been moved to the maximum security Cessnock Jail after allegedly jumping the fence on Sunday night.
His life on the outside is alleged to have lasted only a few seconds before a corrections officer shone a torch on him, prompting the inmate to jump back inside St Heliers.
It is believed the officer was even forced to fire a warning shot after the inmate allegedly failed to heed his call to stop after his escape attempt was foiled and he continued to run back towards his cell.
The 31-year-old was serving a 15-month sentence for contravening an Apprehended Violence Order, larceny and common assault. He has been charged with escape lawful custody and his minimum security status has been revoked.
The maximum sentence for escape lawful custody is 10 years.
Dan Proudman
© 2003 Newcastle Herald