Three men accused of escaping a corrective services work camp in Western Australia, before trying to return a few hours later, have faced court.
Patrick Peter Mark Gore, Leroy Malo and Gregory Francis McKenzie allegedly escaped the Wyndham Work Camp last night and walked into the Wyndham township.
Prosecutors allege the men attempted to return to the minimum security facility when they became aware police were searching for them.
The three men were taken back into custody and appeared in the Kununurra Magistrate's Court this morning.
Police prosecutor Neil Berkley told the court the men made a plan to escape the camp and waited until the last night check before leaving their rooms.
Sergeant Berkley alleged the trio walked to the boundary before climbing the fence.
Guilty plea
Gore, 20, pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and breaching a family violence restraining order.
Sergeant Berkley alleged that Gore phoned the protected person as he was walking along the Great Northern Highway.
The court heard the person he contacted immediately phoned police.
Aboriginal Legal Service defence lawyer Ashleigh Williams said her client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had attempted to return to the camp during the night.
She said her client was much younger than the other men and was included in the plan because he was familiar with the Wyndham layout.
Community Corrections told the court Gore had applied for parole in April but the application was rejected by the Prisoners Review Board, which cited unmet treatment needs.
'Abusing a privilege'
Magistrate Colin Roberts said it was likely that the programs Gore needed were not available in Broome Regional Prison.
But he said Gore had been fortunate to be serving his sentence at the Wyndham Work Camp.
The facility, which opened in 2011 and houses around 40 prisoners, was designed to facilitate prisoners' re-entry into the community and help them contribute through skills-based community work.
"It's an absolute privilege, and you abused that privilege," Mr Roberts said.
"One thing in your favour is you did come back to camp."
He sentenced Gore to a total of five months imprisonment for both offences, to be served on top of his existing sentence that would have ended in September.
Malo and McKenzie did not enter pleas and were remanded in custody to appear again next month.
