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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Cassandra Morgan

Police charge unemployed 32yo with attempting to escape courtroom

Eliott John Fleet. Picture: Facebook

Police have charged an unemployed 32-year-old with attempting to escape custody and being in contempt of court.

Eliott John Fleet fronted the ACT Magistrates Court for a bail application on January 8.

Prosecutors are expected to allege that, after Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter explained why she would refuse Fleet's application, he threw a tissue box in her direction and started for the courtroom exit.

They are expected to allege that he lashed out at corrections officers and a police officer, who tackled him to the ground, and threatened to bite one of people restraining him.

The Canberra Times and other media were in the courtroom at the time of the bail hearing.

After officers had escorted Fleet back down to the court cells and Ms Hunter had formally refused him bail, the magistrate remarked: "It seems to me that I've made the right decision in that regard."

On Tuesday, Fleet appeared before the court again via phone link and suggested he was confused by the charges.

He did not enter pleas to the fresh offences: attempting to escape from custody or arrest, committing a contempt in the face or in the hearing of the court, and resisting a territory public official.

His Legal Aid lawyer sought a three-week adjournment for his matters, which included other charges of assaulting a front-line community service provider and exposing a child to cannabis smoke.

The lawyer said Fleet would soon be sentenced for some offences.

Police documents previously tendered to the court alleged the 32-year-old jumped the back fence of a Moncrieff house after officers knocked on its door on January 6.

The documents alleged when police returned to the house the next day, Fleet opened the door, inhaled a bong next to a child, broke free of police and ran about 50 metres before officers managed to catch up with him and Taser him.

Magistrate James Lawton on Tuesday put most of Fleet's matters over to the end of February.

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