A man accidentally released from prison early has been charged with trying to flee detention after briefly tasting freedom.
Randolph Harrison Convery, 48, on Aug. 25 pleaded not guilty in Raymond Terrace Local Court to one count of attempting to escape from lawful custody.
A day earlier, he was found at Port Stephens in New South Wales (NSW) after police last week issued a public appeal for help in finding him.
At the time, police said he was wanted “by virtue of outstanding arrest warrants”.
But Convery was released five months earlier than he should have been due to a paperwork mistake.
In a statement, the Department of Communities and Justice said Convery was released from cells after he was sentenced at Newcastle Local Court on Aug. 16 due to an “administrative error” within the registry.
He had been sentenced to a minimum 12 months in jail after being found guilty of assault.
Including time already served, Convery was supposed to be released at the end of January 2024, but the internal error resulted in his early freedom.
“The Department of Communities and Justice has reviewed the processes it has in place and has identified that this was a case of human error,” a department spokesperson said.
“Information will be reissued to all staff regarding existing processes, checks and balances.”
Convery enjoyed eight days of freedom before he was located and charged.
Convery will reappear at Newcastle Local Court in October.
NSW Police declined to comment on the matter as it was now before the courts.
