A man from north-west Tasmania, Stephen Keith Edwards, has been sentenced for multiple offenses, including escaping police custody and assaulting law enforcement officers. The Burnie Magistrates Court reviewed video evidence of Edwards fleeing a courtroom after being remanded into custody.
Edwards, 29, received a 14-month prison sentence, which is retroactively effective from November 7, 2025. He appeared via video link for the sentencing hearing on Tuesday after admitting guilt to one count of escape, two counts of assault against police, and several other charges.
In addition to the escape, Edwards was found guilty of unrelated crimes such as theft, burglary, common assault, resisting arrest, violating bail conditions, and possessing drug-related items. Magistrate Jackie Hartnett noted that the body camera footage presented in court depicted a “significant struggle,” highlighting that Edwards continued to resist the police’s efforts to detain him.
Magistrate Hartnett emphasized the seriousness of escape incidents and deemed the assaults on police officers “particularly serious,” while expressing relief that the officers did not sustain any lasting physical injuries. Defense attorney Lizzie Arnold explained that Edwards had panicked and wanted to bid farewell to his partner.
During the proceedings, it was disclosed that Edwards was taken into custody on December 6 and brought to the Burnie courthouse for a late-night session. After being remanded, he attempted to kiss his partner goodbye but was refused permission, a decision described by Magistrate Hartnett as “entirely appropriate.” Following this, Edwards forcibly opened the dock door, evaded two police officers, and sprinted toward the exit.
CCTV footage presented in court captured Edwards fleeing the courtroom and running through the courthouse foyer, pursued by police. Prosecutor Sam Reid reported that Edwards caused damage to a sliding glass door while trying to escape and was apprehended shortly after.
Body camera footage from the scene displayed officers and court security struggling to control Edwards, who resisted for several minutes. The prosecution indicated that during this altercation, Edwards struck two police officers and pushed a court security guard. Arnold characterized the escape as “short-lived,” asserting that Edwards felt embarrassed by his actions and was in a poor mental state when he panicked.
Additional body camera footage from outside the courthouse portrayed Edwards continuing to resist as police attempted to place him in a police van. Officers were heard urging him to stop resisting, with one stating, “Stephen, what are you doing? You’re going in either way, mate, just give up,” while another said, “Quit being stupid and get in the van.”
After a lengthy struggle, police utilized pepper spray and eventually secured Edwards inside the van. Beyond the escape incident on December 6, 2025, Magistrate Hartnett also imposed sentences for various other offenses, including theft, burglary, and resisting police, resulting in a total sentence of 14 months in prison, taking into account time already served.
As the sentence was pronounced, Edwards’s partner shouted “I love you” from the courtroom, to which he responded through the video link, saying, “I love you darl, so sorry.”
