A prisoner released by mistake has appeared in court after briefly tasting freedom when an administration error allowed him back onto the streets five months early.
Randolph Harrison Convery’s eight nights on the outside came to an end on Thursday when he was discovered relaxing at the Shoal Bay Country Club at Port Stephens in NSW.
Staff said he had been knocking back beers and cocktails.
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Convery, 49, was charged with attempting to escape from lawful custody but pleaded not guilty to that allegation during an appearance in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday.
His lawyer argues he has a release certificate to prove his innocence.
Convery was accidentally released from custody on August 16, despite reportedly protesting that he still had time to serve.
He had been sentenced to a minimum 12 months in jail after being found guilty of assault and weapons charges.
Including time already served, he was supposed to be released at the end of January 2024.
A wide-ranging manhunt was launched when authorities realised their error.
Police issued a public appeal and said he was wanted “by virtue of outstanding arrest warrants”.
It then emerged that Convery had been released before his time because of an internal blunder.
In a statement, the Department of Communities and Justice said Convery was released from cells after he was sentenced at Newcastle Local Court due to an “administrative error” within the registry.
“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.”
NSW Police declined to comment on the matter as it was now before the courts.
– With AAP
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