Former Adelaide councillor charged with stalking flees court after being confronted by man

A former councillor charged with stalking has fled from court after being confronted by a man verbally accosting and chasing him. See the wild video.

A fiery confrontation has occurred outside court involving a former Onkaparinga councillor charged with a number of aggravated stalking offences.

Robert De Jonge appeared in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Tuesday in front of Magistrate Kylie Schulz charged with six counts of aggravated stalking.

Former Onkaparinga councillor Robert de Jonge is confronted outside Christies Beach Magistrates Court. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Former Onkaparinga councillor Robert de Jonge is confronted outside Christies Beach Magistrates Court. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The man verbally accosted and shouted at Mr De Jonge, who turned and ran down the street.

The man gave chase and then bumped Mr De Jonge into the fence of a nearby house.

The ex-councillor flees Christies Beach Magistrates Court, yelled at by the man. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The ex-councillor flees Christies Beach Magistrates Court, yelled at by the man. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The ex-councillor flees Christies Beach Magistrates Court, chased by the man. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Mr De Jong had appeared in court earlier this month, but was recently granted home detention bail after a desperate “final chance” plea to return to the community.

Defence counsel for the ex-councillor told Ms Schulz he had “serious concerns” for his client’s mental health, and highlighted the “enormous upheaval” his family had endured throughout the alleged offending.

At an appearance in September, a prosecutor alleged Mr De Jonge left notes for a woman and followed her to a town 160km outside Adelaide.

A police prosecutor suggested there was “some kind of tracking” involved.

Last week, the prosecution told the court the defendant’s actions had caused his alleged victim to “fear leaving her address”, and submitted she “felt safer” knowing the accused was in custody.

They further alleged the woman had found a letter in her letterbox written by the accused saying: “I miss you and I want to take you somewhere” and “I want to talk to you for hours”.

Mr De Jonge will next appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court later this year.

Originally published as Former Adelaide councillor charged with stalking flees court after being confronted by man