Billy Jaye Hayes tells court of fear in prison due to his ‘high profile situation’

After an alleged crime spree and spending Easter on the run “nasty one” Billy Hayes told court he fears prison due to his high profile situation.

A 28-year-old man who was arrested by police days after he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet has told of his fear of being kept in the main prison population.

Billy Jaye Hayes, pictured, who had been on the run since Good Friday, appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court yesterday via video-link.

Hayes, who sports facial tattoos reading “infamous” and “nasty one” faced three sets of fresh new charges.

The first related to an incident at Underdale on March 31 – the basic count of committing assault and allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a person without consent.

The second set of charges related to an incident on March 25 at Kilkenny.

He was charged with four basic counts of committing assault and an aggravated count of committing assault with a weapon.

Billy Hayes appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday on a string of charges. Picture: SAPOL

Police reports also showed Hayes had been on home-detention bail for a string of charges, including assault.

It was first thought Hayes had fled Adelaide but, just after 8.30pm on Tuesday, police and STAR Group officers, arrested him at a Glandore address without incident.

Hayes said he was concerned about his safety with the general prison population.

“With my high-profile situation and the content of the charges, I was wondering if I could remain in the Adelaide Remand Centre to a later date,” he said.

“I’d like the chance to prove my innocence but I don’t want to be fighting every single day.”

Magistrate Paul Foley said Hayes would need to raise the matter with the prison authorities.

“They have control over where you’re held,” he said.

Hayes will be back in court for charge determination on May 11.