QLD:Escapee in court after alleged attack

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2012
QLD:Escapee in court after alleged attack

EDS: Changing keyword from Escapee.



By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Feb 1 AAP - A child sex offender who allegedly attacked a woman just hours
after escaping from a low-security facility has briefly appeared in court.

Andrew Clive Ellis cut off his GPS tracking device and left a low-security correctional
facility at Wacol, southwest of Brisbane, around 1am (AEST) on Tuesday.

It's alleged the 29-year-old knocked a 40-year-old female jogger to the ground and
assaulted her at Seventeen Mile Rocks, in Brisbane's west, less than seven hours later.

Ellis was placed in the low-security facility in December last year after spending
six years behind bars for sexually assaulting two girls, aged 13 and 17.

He had also been jailed for drug and property offences.

Ellis remained on the run for several hours on Tuesday while police launched a widespread
manhunt.

He was picked up by a police patrol in the southern Brisbane suburb of Acacia Ridge
just before 4.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday.

Ellis has been charged with one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, deprivation
of liberty, stealing, and contravening a release order.

He also faces two counts of entering premises and committing an indictable offence.

Ellis appeared briefly in the Richlands Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

He made no application for bail and the matter was adjourned until February 16 for mention.

Ellis is expected to face the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday
morning for a hearing relating to the breach of his release order made under the Dangerous
Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.

AAP cf/tnf/mjs/wjf

KEYWORD: LEGAL: ELLIS (CHANGING KEYWORD)

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