Wollongong local Zac Black, 30, sentenced for escaping Goulburn Correctional Centre

A fraudster has been sentenced for a foolhardy escape from jail that was stopped in its tracks. Find out what happened.

A fraudster who “spontaneously” attempted to escape Goulburn jail has now prolonged his sentence.

Wollongong local Zac Black, 30, appeared via audiovisual link at Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday, having previously plead guilty to escaping lawful custody.

Court documents tendered to the court state Black was originally sentenced in May to eight months in jail for larceny and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Zac Black, 30, previously pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody at Goulburn Correctional Centre.

He was to be released from Goulburn jail on parole in September until trying to escape minimal security.

Documents state on June 24 he walked to a medical clinic and while being walked back to minimum security by his escorting officer, he made a run for it.

According to the facts, he jumped over a minimal security barbed wire fence and ran from Maud St onto Wilmot Street.

When police and corrective officers caught up with him around 200 metres from the centre, at the intersection of Wilmot and Wayo Street, facts state he told police he was trying to catch a train from Goulburn back home to Warrawong near Wollongong.

There he was handcuffed and charged for the act.

On Wednesday, the duty solicitor labelled the offence as a “spontaneous escape” and asked the magistrate for special circumstances due to his suspected mental health issues.

The minimum security wings at Goulburn Correctional Centre where Zac Black tried to escape from on June 24, 2022.

She highlighted that by attempting an escape, Black had forfeited his right to minimum security, which may higher his risk of being institutionalised.

Magistrate Beattie agreed that “there is that very real risk of being institutionalised by spending time in custody” however said the “only possible sentence is jail”.

“Escaping jail is really serious, it carries 10 years in jail,” Magistrate Beattie said.

“There’s a big need to stop people from committing this offence.”

Before sentencing Black, she noted there was “no proof of planning” and that he pleaded guilty on the first opportunity.

Black was sentenced to nine months jail backdated to when he committed the offence.

He was granted special circumstances with a short parole of four months and is eligible for release on January 26.

“The non parole is only short because you do need help when you get out,” Magistrate Beattie said.