A man who fled a secure dock to avoid going to prison has told a judge he did it because he had suffered a panic attack.

Adam Savage, of Meadow Bank Road, Chatham, smashed his way through a door at Medway Magistrates' Court and fled.

The 34-year-old went on the run for a week in August before handing himself in at Medway police station on September 5.

But Maidstone Crown Court heard he had tried to get arrested by talking with a police officer on the beat and telephoning a police station.

Savage's barrister Mary Jacobson claimed each time he was told he wasn't being hunted by Kent Police.

"Despite being told that, and on advice from his lawyer, he walked into a police station and gave himself up with his tail between his legs," Ms Jacobson said.

She told the court Savage had "scored an own goal" by escaping as he wasn't able to receive his methadone prescription.

Savage had become frustrated after being taken before magistrates in breach of a suspended sentence and a supervision order.

Ms Jacobson explained when he realised magistrates had decided to impose a 100-day jail sentence, he realised he would lose his home.

"He had been homeless for three years and he had a panic attack," she said.

"He just lashed out in panic because he knew he was going to lose his accommodation. He was kicking himself metaphorically.

"He pushed at the court door in frustration but had not expected it to open and when it did he just ran through the court.

"This was a piece of real stupidity but I accept there was no violence..." Judge Martin Huseyin

"It had been a spontaneous decision. He is acutely embarrassed that he acted that way. He had not had his methadone tablets that day and was not feeling well."

Savage, who appeared in the secure dock sat between two security officers with a third guarding the door, admitted escaping lawful custody in August.

Judge Martin Huseyin jailed him for an extra 16 weeks, telling him: "This was a piece of real stupidity but I accept there was no violence to people just a small amount of damage to a lock.

"I accept this was done more in panic rather than in malice and during the seven days you were at large there is no evidence before me that you committed any crime."

After receiving his sentence he thanked the judge before turning to the security officers and putting his hands up as if expecting to be handcuffed.

Earlier, court security officers had applied to the judge for Savage to appear in the dock in cuffs but it was refused.

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