Bank robber and prison escapee Anthony John Smith fails in bid to overturn refusal of parole, will continue serving prison term

He’s infamous for his carefully planned bank heists and outlandish escapes, but Adelaide’s artful dodger has failed in his bid for parole.

Notorious armed robber Anthony John Smith, once known as Adelaide’s “artful dodger,” has lost his bid to be lawfully released from prison.

The Supreme Court has also ordered Smith – infamous for his many attempts to escape the state’s jails – to repay all taxpayer funds spent blocking his latest attempt to secure parole.

Smith had petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn an “unreasonable” ruling that, despite having completed his 18-year non-parole period, he was not eligible to be considered for release.

He argued the Parole Board had taken “irrelevant” matters into account, such as his bad reputation within the prison system and the testimony of inmates that consider him their “enemy”.

Some members of the Board had, Smith claimed, an “unfavourable” view of him and his efforts to rehabilitate, which rendered their ultimate decision unfair.

On Thursday, however, Justice Sophie David said the Board had not erred in its decision-making.

She said there was no evidence that Smith had, in any way, been treated unfairly.

“The Board was not required to disclose its unfavourable impressions as to the genuineness of Smith’s remorse and his preparedness to reduce his influence within the prison system,” she said.

“That a number of prisoners listed Smith as an ‘enemy’, and that he has a reputation within the prison as being threatening, are both matters to which the Board could have proper regard.”

Anthony John Smith poses with some of his loot in a photo sent to SA Police.

In February 1999, Smith was arrested after netting $22,300 in an armed robbery of a suburban hotel.

A month later, Smith was escorted under guard to see his father in the Royal Adelaide Hospital but escaped by running through the parklands and catching a taxi.

Over the next 12 months, he used a variety of disguises to steal gold bullion, cash and precious jewels from banks across the suburbs.

At one stage, Smith operated from a luxury city hotel room, sending photos of himself and his loot to police.

In 2003, after he was finally caught, Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years’ jail with an 18-year non-parole period.

Smith has spent that time in high security, having made several attempts to escape.

On Thursday, Justice David said the Board did not take irrelevant matters into account, nor did it fail to consider relevant matters. She said: “Smith has not established that the decision to refuse parole was unreasonable.”

“The Board’s decision not to release him on parole was reasonably open on the material before it.”

Smith was neither brought to the court nor appeared via video link for the decision.

Originally published as Bank robber and prison escapee Anthony John Smith fails in bid to overturn refusal of parole, will continue serving prison term