Prisoner's bid for freedom

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Police apprehend Konin Leigh, who fled from the Auckland District Court.

Police apprehend Konin Leigh, who fled from the Auckland District Court.

Police apprehend Konin Leigh, who fled from the Auckland District Court.

Police apprehend Konin Leigh, who fled from the Auckland District Court.

Police apprehend Konin Leigh, who fled from the Auckland District Court.

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A prisoner jumped the dock at the Auckland District Court and made a bold bid for freedom, but was brought down by security guards in a nearby street.

Konin Leigh, 23, was in court for a bail application hearing before Judge Greg Davies.

He faced charges of aggravated robbery, possession of methamphetamine, escaping custody, vehicle conversion, failing to stop and two counts of driving whilst disqualified.

Judge Davies had just turned down his bail application, and was about to set a date for his next appearance when Leigh jumped over the 1.5m dock and ran from the courtroom.

He sprinted down the court's main escalator and past security guards but was caught in Wyndham Street, just behind the court.

A police prosecutor, who did not want to be named, said it was "extremely rare" for someone to escape from court.

"We get some unruly people in court but nobody usually takes the stand and then jumps and leaps from the dock. He ran faster than Jonah Lomu," he said.

A security guard, who did not want to be named, said he caught up with Leigh eventually and he was now back in police custody.

"I was chasing after him, but closely followed by two police officers and four security guards.

He just ran out of breath eventually and I was able to catch up with him," the guard said.

Leigh's lawyer John Kovacevich was unavailable for comment.

- NZPA