Court told of crimes during manhunt

A CIRCULAR Head man police claim escaped their custody by running out of a fire door at the Burnie Police Station before trying to leave Tasmania by ship has pleaded not guilty to a string of crimes associated with the alleged fourday manhunt.

Braydon William Stanley, 26, of Irishtown, yesterday pleaded not guilty to a charge of escape, motor vehicle stealing, negligent driving and driving without a licence.

Stanley appeared in the Burnie Magistrate’s Court via video link from Risdon Prison.

Police allege that after Stanley fled from the police station on September 23, he jumped a fence at the Burnie Port and stole a work vehicle that had the keys in the ignition.

Police say he drove the car to Upper Burnie before dumping it in a suburban street.

Stanley was arrested at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal on September 26.

Stanley pleaded guilty to a number of historical charges — including two of motor vehicle stealing and another of stealing.

It was a charge of failing to appear on these matters which led police to arrest Stanley in Irishtown on September 22 and take him to Burnie Police Station.

He was to be held to appear in court.

Magistrate Leanne Topfer remanded Stanley in custody yesterday to reappear on November 12 for formal remand.

Magistrate Topfer order a drug treatment assessment be carried out in the interim.

Stanley will be sentenced on December 17 for the matters to which he has pleaded guilty.