Ex-councillor Robert De Jonge runs from Adelaide court in wild chase scene
A former local councillor has been chased from court in dramatic scenes – a few months after a viral foot chase with a TV journo.
A former local councillor accused of stalking a woman has been chased from a courthouse before asking a news reporter if she “wants to go out”.
Robert De Jonge, who previously sat on the City of Onkaparinga, appeared at Christies Beach Magistrates Court in Adelaide on Tuesday – where wild scenes unfolded.
Police allege the former local politician used a tracking device to stalk a woman and left notes on her car windscreen, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.
He has been charged with six counts of aggravated stalking.
Asked by 7News reporter Hannah Foord if he would be contesting the charges, Mr De Jonge replied: “Of course. I haven’t done anything wrong, Hannah.”
The broadcaster showed a tense confrontation outside the court doors with a man in a black singlet.
This man could be heard shouting at the accused stalker before asking “got the runners on?”
Mr De Jonge had previously run from Ms Foord after a July court appearance for the same charges.
On Tuesday, he was chased from the court by the singlet-clad man before Ms Foord caught up with him on a nearby street.
“Hannah, leave me alone I’ve done nothing wrong, sweetheart,” Mr De Jonge could be heard to say.
Later the broadcaster showed Mr De Jonge and Ms Foord, while the reporter sat in a car.
“You’re a nice chick by the way if you want to go out?” he said.
“I’ve got to go to the police station, I’ve got things to do.”
The two had been part of a prolonged foot chase in July when Mr De Jonge attempted to avoid the media at one of his previous court dates, with video of the incident being viewed tens of thousands of times online.
Ms Foord, wearing a pink suit, gave pursuit of the former local councillor holding her microphone and asking him for comment.
“Why don’t you just stop and talk, Mr De Jonge?”
The Adelaide Advertiser reports that during a court appearance in September, a prosecutor alleged Mr De Jonge left notes for a woman and followed her to a town 160km outside of Adelaide.
The prosecutor alleged there was “some kind of tracking” involved, the newspaper reports.
Mr De Jonge’s alleged actions had made the woman “fear leaving her address”, the court was told.
He will next appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court this year.