A man, who two years ago made a break for freedom while in custody, back behind bars
A man who two years ago made a daring escape while in custody, has been convicted on a range of other charges, and sentenced to more time behind bars.
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Man’s ‘reprehensible’ attack on bus driver
- Pedestrian hit by car while crossing the road in Newcastle
A man, who two years ago made a daring escape from a waiting room at John Hunter Hospital while in custody, will spend more time behind bars.
In Newcastle Local Court on Friday, Simon John Way, 38, was convicted on a raft of charges including break and enter, larceny, stolen goods and drive whilst disqualified.
Magistrate David Price sentenced Way to an aggregate sentence of 22 months, with a non-parole period of 11 months, which sees him eligible for release in March 2022.
“That’s a fair and reasonable amount” Magistrate Price said.
“There’s special circumstances of chronic drug problems and he’s close to being institutionalised.”
Court papers revealed in April, Way was charged with stealing an Orange ‘Fluid’ Mountain bike and leading police on a short pursuit.
At the time he was wanted on four outstanding warrants and was spotted by police riding along King St in Newcastle.
They tried to stop him but he sped off before being knocked off his bike in a car park on Wharf Rd. He fractured his hand and also got arrested.
In February while at Westfield Kotara, he stole copper wire from the back of a utility and was found to be driving whilst disqualified.
And Way also pleaded guilty to break and enter charges from December 2018 at Mayfield.
He broke into a house and stole a number of tools including a Makita drill and nail gun worth $1600, before leaving a trail of blood in and outside the residence, after cutting his forearm at the location.
With a long criminal history, it was in 2017 Way gave prison guards a headache when as a maximum security inmate at Cessnock Correctional Centre, he made a daylight escape from John Hunter Hospital while there for treatment.
Despite being escorted by two casual prison officers and wearing hand and ankle cuffs, he escaped from a waiting room and jumped from a rooftop.
CCTV vision captured the moment Way - who was behind bars for offences including assault at the time - make a break for it and manage to evade both guards who had escorted him.
He was recaptured shortly after hiding in bushland nearby following a massive police search.