Bradley Campbell charged for knife possession after running from police officers

When a man spotted police in the middle of the night, he immediately turned and ran, jumping fences into the darkness. About 15 minutes later, he was in handcuffs.

Bradley Campbell. Photograph: File

A man’s dramatic efforts at a midnight escape, jumping a number of fences after being spotted by police officers, ended in misery when he was handcuffed and a sharp metal pair of scissors and syringe was discovered in his bum bag.

Bradley John Campbell, 30, pleaded guilty at Tweed Heads Local Court on November 11 for being in the custody of a knife in a public place while he has not entered a plea to a charge of intending to commit a serious offence at a house where people were present.

No pleas were entered for the latter charge.

The court heard the Tweed Heads South labourer had an extensive criminal history.

Police were on the ground at William St at Tweed Heads South for unrelated matters when they spotted Campbell at 12.15am on November 6.

Campbell saw the police and immediately made a run for it, police facts reveal.

“He ran through unit blocks, police gave chase but lost sight of him after he jumped over a number of fences,” court documents state.

However, police regained vision of Campbell at 12.30am, who ran again upon sighting officers.

Campbell ran to Lloyd St where he was arrested and handcuffed, police facts state.

He was then searched and police discovered some illegal items in his “bum bag”.

“There was a set of sharp pointed metal scissors as well as a syringe,” court documents state.

“(Campbell) has an extensive history of being involved in police pursuits, whist he is wanted,” police state.

Police documents state the incident was Campbell’s third breach of his bail conditions as he was not undertaking drug rehabilitation as well as not complying with a curfew and being of good behaviour.

When these offences took place, Campbell was on strict bail conditions for serious matters relating to firearms and break and enter offences, the court heard.

The court heard he tried to outrun police after they caught him driving on a suspended licence, which also led to a police chase in April.

Campbell has also been charged with driving without adequate supervision while on his ‘L’ plates on October 14.

No pleas for those charges have been entered but Magistrate Andrew Sinclair found Campbell guilty of driving without a licensed driver.

Campbell, who appeared in court from police custody, was convicted and sentenced to five days’ jail from November 6 to November 10.