The inmate appeared in Tamworth Local Court on Tuesday for sentencing after the September 13 prison break.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A PRISON inmate has been jailed for an extra 12 months after he escaped from the Tamworth Correctional Centre two months ago.
James Andrew Creighton was sentenced in Tamworth Local Court on Tuesday to an extra year behind bars for the escape which saw prison officers fire a warning gunshot.
Magistrate Julie Soars jailed Creighton for a minimum of nine months, meaning he will be eligible for parole in June 2020.
The Leader revealed the 22-year-old's September 13 prison break, after he pleaded guilty last month to escaping custody. The offence carries a maximum of two years' imprisonment in the local court.
READ ALSO:
Court documents revealed Creighton asked prison officers, "Why didn't you shoot me?" when he was captured hundreds of metres away from the jail.
Creighton, who is on remand for other charges, was in segregation and being escorted from the prison about 8.30am on the day in question.
He was due to be put into a Correctives' van waiting out the front of the jail, and taken to Shortland Correctional Centre.
Court documents revealed Creighton was being led by three Corrective Services officers, but "pulled down with his arms" and out of their grip, running east.
A Corrective Services officer yelled, "Runner, runner". The escort officer drew his firearm and "fired one round into the air as a warning shot".
Police facts show Creighton ducked as the shot rang out, but he did not stop, leaving the prison grounds via the exit onto Dean Street.
He ran into the Tamworth hospital car park across the road, as several prison officers gave chase.
Creighton "eventually stopped" and laid down on the ground in the car park before prison officers took him back into custody. He then asked staff: "Why didn't you shoot me?"
Police facts show Creighton ran 300m from the jail while handcuffed.
He was re-arrested by police and charged, and subsequently refused bail on the fresh offence. He has been behind bars since.
Creighton was placed into maximum security, as is usual protocol for inmates who escape from custody.