Kolbe James Langley Butler sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court after fleeing courtroom

He was on the run for a whole three minutes, but this time there was nowhere to go when a young man bolted from a Rockhampton courtroom as he was being sentenced.

A fear of being assaulted in jail was what made a young man run from a Rockhampton courtroom as he was being sentenced, a court has heard.

Kolbe James Langley Butler, 28, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 28 to 32 offences including wilfully interrupting proceedings of court, assault police, obstructing police, forgery and uttering, uttering a forged document, stealing and fraud.

On July 28 he appeared in court via videolink from Capricornia Correctional Centre.

It was on June 17 that Butler was being sentenced for matters in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in front of Magistrate Cameron Press when he fled the courtroom. 

He was on the run for a whole three minutes before being stopped by police.

Butler ran out of the court precinct towards the Rockhampton CBD where he eventually ended up on Quay St.

Kolbe James Langley Butler ran from the Rockhampton Court House on June 17 when he was being sentenced.

A police officer, who was aware of what happened at the courthouse, saw Butler and told him to stop.

But Butler continued running to underneath the Boathouse restaurant.

The officer followed and caught up with Butler, telling him he was under arrest.

The officer attempted to physically restrain Butler before Butler put his hands on the officer’s chest and grabbed his shirt.

Butler then attempted to do a “leg sweep” before he was arrested and restrained with the assistance of a member of the public.

In relation to the other offences, the court heard Butler was employed with Ergon Energy between 2014 and 2016 as an apprentice electrician.

During that time Butler was issued 13 cab charge vouchers to be used for transportation purposes connected to his work.

The court heard Butler was authorised to use the vouchers for travel from home to the airport and from his hotel to a university where he was studying in relation to his job.

Butler’s employment was terminated in 2016, but he failed to return the unused vouchers when requested.

In August 2020, Butler used the vouchers for his own personal benefit on taxi fares around Rockhampton.

In total he used $224.30 worth of the vouchers.

The court heard Butler had a six-page criminal record, which included entries of stealing and obstructing police.

He was also on parole at the time.

The court heard that Butler grew up at Banana and was diagnosed with bipolar after he lost his job.

Butler’s lawyer told the court his client was fearful of being assaulted again in prison and that’s why he ran during sentencing in June.

Lawyer Ashley Reynolds said Butler struggled with his mental health and had been put on a depo shot to assist with his issues.

Ms Reynolds said Butler had previously been assaulted in prison and was fearful of it happening again and that’s why he ran from the courtroom.

Before being sentenced on July 28, Butler again apologised for fleeing the courtroom.

Mr Press took into account Butler’s plea of guilty and that it came at an early opportunity.

He also noted Butler’s apology.

Mr Press urged Butler to continue getting assistance for his mental health issues when released from prison.

“You’re a qualified electrician … you’ve got a future ahead of you, don’t waste it,” he said.

Butler was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and had 41 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time already served.

He was given immediate parole eligibility.

Butler was also ordered to pay $224.30 restitution.

Originally published as Kolbe James Langley Butler sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court after fleeing courtroom