Nude man’s cheeky bid for freedom

A man appearing in the Greymouth District Court ripped off his prison gown, bounded out of the dock stark naked and made a break for the exit.

Dylan James Ellis was arrested on Tuesday on a warrant for theft and various drugs charges, and allegedly eye-gouged the arresting officer, who had to go to hospital.

Ellis was taken into the courtroom on Wednesday, screaming that he could not be sent to jail.

He continued to rant in the dock, saying he needed help, and made accusations against the police.

Then he ripped off his prison gown and, naked, jumped over the top of the dock.

It took a police officer, a prison guard, the Greymouth police prosecutor and a probation officer to restrain him, and he was removed from the court.

The mental-health crisis team assessed Ellis and told Judge Anthony Couch they saw no sign of psychological or mental-health issues.

Back in the dock, Ellis, who was told to stay calm, faced theft charges from December 22, threatening-language charges from Westport in December and charges relating from his arrest on Tuesday.

The latest charges included assaulting police, possessing methamphetamine utensils and cannabis seeds, disorderly behaviour and assault with intent to injure.

Police said Ellis had eye-gouged one officer, who needed hospital treatment.

The judge remanded him until March 28.