Billal Houda sentenced after jail escape
A jail inmate ripped through a country town in his prison greens on a crime spree that included a police pursuit in a stolen car, stealing a suitcase and barricading himself in a toilet block.
Parramatta
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Former Granville man Billal Houda, who escaped from Glenn Innes Correctional Centre before going on a crime spree, has faced court for sentencing when a magistrate offered his sympathies to the inmate with a “lengthy” criminal history.
Houda, 29, pleaded guilty to escaping the Northern Tablelands jail on June 17 when he was serving a four-year sentence for a series of break and enters, and thefts, in Guildford and Granville in March.
On Monday, Parramatta Local Court heard the Granville man was present at the morning headcount at the low-security prison before he was seen running across the New England Highway near the Happy Valley TSR Cattle Crossing in his jail greens, about 10km north of Glen Innes.
Houda then stole a Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to Bernard Brennan, which he’d left running on the side of the New England Highway.
The four-wheel drive contained his wallet, mobile phone and a broad-brimmed floppy hat, which Houda donned as he tried to elude police through the New England Highway as he drove south to Glen Innes up to 150km/h, only slowing down to 90km/h as he reached the town.
A policeman suffered a sore neck and shoulder during the pursuit, which wound through Taylor and Ray streets, the Gwydir Highway, East and Wentworth streets, West Ave and Laing and Macquarie streets.
Houda’s stolen 4WD collided with the police car but Houda managed to elude cops and broke into a house at West Ave where he stole a man’s clothing, a suitcase and $163.15.
He then headed to Glen Innes Swimming Pool where he threw the suitcase over the fence before breaking into the council-owned premises.
Police facts state Houda raised a large roller door, walked into the male and female toilet blocks before retrieving the stolen suitcase before spotting police and fleeing to nearby Glen Innes Soccer Fields where he hid in the toilet block and tried to barricade the door.
He then apologised to police during his arrest.
“The accused told police that he was sorry and had only run away as his partner had left him with his child and he didn’t know where to,’’ police facts state.
At Parramatta Local Court, Magistrate Kevin Hockey told the court the police pursuit was dangerous but did not believe it was planned.
“It’s fair to say that was a significant police pursuit and created a significant danger to members of the public,’’ he said.
“There was no suggestion there was any significant amount of planning or sophistication in planning the escape.
“I have some sympathy for your situation and … I hope things work out for you and I wish you all the best.’’
Houda was sentenced to a total of 12 months and will be released in March 2024.