Days on run ‘good effort’

Escapee gloats about evading cops

A MAN accused of escaping police custody in Burnie this week has gloated of his alleged exploits from the inside of a divisional van.

Braydon William Stanley was arrested on Thursday night — after four days on the run — at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Devonport.

Yesterday he was taken to the Devonport Magistrates Court to face charges associated with his alleged escape from the Burnie Police Station on Monday.

“It was a good effort eh?” the 26-year-old yelled at media from the back of the van as he arrived at court under heavy police guard.

“Four days. You happy with that.”

Inside the court, Stanley’s matters were adjourned to be heard in the Burnie Magisgotta be trates Court on October 16. He was remanded in custody.

Stanley was arrested by Burnie and Devonport CIB detectives about 4.40pm on Thursday in East Devonport.

Police say he was in a vehicle with a 58-year-old Burnie man.

The older man has been charged with harbouring an escaped prisoner and bailed to appear in court in November.

Police allege Stanley fled the Burnie station through a fire door while he was being processed on a charge of failing to appear in court to answer stealing, motor vehicle stealing and other charges.

Inspector Adrian Shadbolt said police had intended to remand Stanley in custody overnight to appear in court the next day.

Instead, police claim Stanley ran out of the station and into the Burnie CBD. Officers gave chase. From there, Stanley is alleged to have stolen a car from the railyards at Burnie Port, driven to Upper Burnie, dumped the car and continued on foot.

Stanley had arrived at the station after being collected by officers from his home town of Irishtown, near Smithton.