Escaped Goulburn prisoner Ryan Antonius Wennekes-Wright tried to steal getaway cars, assault

A former pastry chef will be behind bars for a long time after he sensationally escaped from jail and tried to steal two getaway cars, one of which had a person still inside.

An escaped prisoner will be behind bars for a long time after he sensationally escaped from Goulburn Correctional Centre and tried to steal two getaway cars, one of which was still occupied by the driver.

Ryan Antonius Wennekes-Wright, 29, appeared via audiovisual link at Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for inmate escape from lawful custody, attempt to unlawfully take motor vehicle with person in it and assault with intent to take motor vehicle.

The Batehaven resident was originally serving a three-year prison sentence for domestic violence charges when he fled the correctional centre on Thursday, July 15. Correctional Services confirmed Wennekes-Wright had been working on a minimum-security project in the prison yard when he ran off.

A mugshot supplied by police during the search for escaped prisoner Ryan Wennekes-Wright. Picture: NSW Police

Court documents show the former pastry chef fled the prison yard at around 1.30pm by jumping over the 1.8 metre wire fence and running into the nearby bushland. Police facts show he changed into a black jacket he found to escape detection and tried to open the door of a passing motorist, who drove off.

According to police, Wennekes-Wright then stopped a car by calling for help in the middle of Tarlo St and when the driver lowered the window, the escaped prisoner opened the door and grabbed the man by his arms and wrists.

The police facts show the victim got out of his car but Wennekes-Wright didn’t realise the man had taken his car keys until he couldn’t start the car, and was forced to abandon the car theft.

He hid in the bushland around the jail for hours while police and corrections officers scoured the area, using helicopters, dogs and drones to assist in the search.

Police were notified when Wennekes-Wright appeared at the Goulburn train station and asked about the train timetable. After nearly six hours on the run, the escaped prisoner was arrested at 7.30pm at the Goulburn train station.

His lawyer Mathew Adam told the court Wennekes-Wright was trying to escape the constant supervision in jail to die after he was told he wouldn’t be able to see his children.

Ryan Wennekes-Wright appeared at Goulburn Local Court on October 5. Picture: Niki Iliagoueva

Court documents reveal he told police he was trying to steal the cars in order to crash them and wanted to learn the train timetable in order to throw himself in front of the locomotive.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said she was confused that not being able to see his kids encouraged him to want to escape to commit suicide rather than finish the sentence so he could see them. However, she acknowledged the behaviour “reflects on the mental state (he was in) at the time.”

The court heard the prisoner has a long history of mental illness, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Mr Adams told the court his client’s mental health had been severely impacted by the Covid diagnosis he received while in custody and the isolation imposed as a result.

The court heard Wennekes-Wright had caused a “financial burden to the state” by necessitating the use of so many resources to locate the escapee.

Magistrate Beattie said the community had been put at risk by the actions of the escaped prisoner.

“You put two members of the community at risk, one who was trying to help you,” she said.

Despite the offender’s lengthy criminal history, Magistrate Beattie took into consideration his Covid diagnosis and his mental health when determining his sentence.

She sentenced Wennekes-Wright a total of 20 months in prison starting from March 24, 2023, with a non-parole period of 15 months.

UPDATE

Wennekes-Wright appeared in Goulburn District Court on November 3 to appeal his sentence for both the original domestic violence charges and the charges relating to his daring prison escape.

Both the prosecution and the defence noted the term of imprisonment for the jail escape can only commence after the conclusion of the domestic violence sentence.

As a result, the sentences have been combined in an aggregate term of imprisonment of three years, which will be backdated to March 24 this year.

Wennekes-Wright will be eligible for parole on December 23, 2022 for his domestic violence charges, at which time he will start his 12 months of imprisonment for the escape charges.

He will eligible for parole on May 23, 2023.

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