Escape details alleged
A PRISONER who spent 12 days on the run is accused of breaking into a unit and stealing a $2000 bike within hours of allegedly fleeing police.
Jake Mark Pearce, of Maydena, was found on Thursday in a Risdon Vale house where a gun was also uncovered.
The 21-year-old appeared before the Hobart Magistrates Court yesterday charged with escaping custody, stealing, aggravated burglary, possessing ammunition and possessing a firearm when not the holder of a firearm licence of the appropriate category.
Further charges laid against him include trafficking in a controlled substance (ice), being in possession of stolen property, driving while disqualified and three counts of breaching bail.
He was unshaven and wearing a plain maroon jumper with a grey T-shirt when he appeared in the dock flanked by two security guards.
He could be seen smiling and laughing at three people sitting in the back of the court.
Another of his supporters was sobbing and walked out during the brief hearing.
Pearce did not enter a plea to any of the charges, but did apply for bail, which was opposed.
He was initially arrested in the early hours of August 31 in Bridgewater for allegedly breaching two of his Supreme Court bail conditions — that he not enter the suburb of Bridgewater at any time and that he remains at his Maydena address on Gordon River Rd between 10pm and 6am.
He is accused of fleeing police custody that afternoon while blood tests were being performed at the Royal Hobart Hospital. He was not handcuffed at the time. Dozens of officers on foot and in vehicles searched central Hobart aided by the Westpac rescue helicopter but were unable to find him.
Police will allege Pearce committed an aggravated burglary at a unit on Collins St, about 700m from the hospital, and stole a Merida Scultura 5000 bike worth about $2000 within hours of disappearing.
After Pearce’s arrest, a Stirling 12-gauge shotgun and three 12-gauge cartridges were discovered by police at the Risdon Vale address. A Honda motorbike worth about $3000, which Pearce allegedly knew to be stolen, was also found.
A woman known to police at the home will face a charge of harbouring a person unlawfully at large.
Magistrate Reg Marron remanded Pearce in custody to reappear on October 3.