Sam Taha, 32, appears in Toowoomba Magistrates Court after avoiding police detection for more than three years

A Queensland man has finally faced court, more than three years after ditching his original court date because he was ‘overwhelmed’ with the process.

Toowoomba man Sam Taha, 32, has pleaded guilty to failure to appear after ditching his original court date more than three years previous. Picture: The Chronicle

A Queensland man who evaded police for more than three years has finally had his day in court.

Toowoomba man Sam Taha, 32, appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning where he pleaded guilty to a failure to appear charge, dating back to 2021.

The court was told Taha had been granted bail for a set of four charges in Southport Magistrates Court on October 14, 2020 and was required to return to the same court on March 4, 2021.

Police prosecutor Julie Wheaton said when Taha failed to return, a warrant was issued for his arrest; however, police were unable to locate him until July 23 of this year.

Toowoomba man Sam Taha, 32, has pleaded guilty to failure to appear after ditching his original court date more than three years previous. Picture: The Chronicle

Ms Wheaton added that when questioned by police, Taha said he had disagreed with two of his charges at the time and felt “overwhelmed” with the court process.

“He said that he was young and that he didn’t know what to do so he effectively swept it under the rug,” she said.

Taha’s duty lawyer, Joe McConnell, said his client had been “full and frank” regarding the reasoning behind his initial court absence.

“He was amid a relationship breakdown, including the pregnancy of his first child,” Mr McConnell said.

“That relationship broke down but since that time he’s rectified that.”

Taha was fined a total of $350 for the failure to appear and ordered to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on September 12, 2024.

A conviction was not recorded.