Authorities are extremely worried about the health of a Narromine man who spent his second day on the run after escaping custody while being treated at hospital for an ongoing medical condition.
Robert John Everingham, 41, escaped from Waverly Memorial Hospital in Sydney on Wednesday where he was to start new treatment for a kidney problem.
Everingham bolted from the hospital after his restraining belt and handcuffs were removed at the request of medical authorities.
It is the second time Everingham has escaped from the custody of Corrective Services.
A spokesman for the department said it was unclear whether the prison officers had been in the hospital where Everingham was to receive treatment.
“Because he had been an escapee sometime before he was classified as an E2 where extra precautions are taken,” the spokesman said.
“I suspect he was unshackled and then taken into the room.”
The spokesman said the exact details of the escape would be released in a report of the incident.
“The more immediate concern is for his medical condition.”
Everingham escaped from Silverwater Jail in 1994 which sparked a manhunt and included the abduction of a woman who was released unharmed a day later, reports at the time said.
Police are taking seriously “indications” he could return to the shire.
“We believe he may have headed to the (Dubbo and Narromine) area,” a police spokesman said.
“The dog squad has become involved in the search and public transport has been canvassed.”
Local reaction to the news was mixed. Despite Everingham’s violent criminal history, several residents who spoke to the Narromine News and Trangie Advocate said they were not worried about his possible return.
“He is not the kind of guy you want to have to deal with,” the resident said.
“He is as strong as a bull.
“Even the blokes in jail are scared of him.”
Another local said he had never had a problem with Everingham.
“If he was here now he would come up, shake my hand and say ‘how are you mate’,”he said
But authorities deemed him too dangerous to appear in court in person when they organised for him to appear via video link.
Everingham refused to appear before the court last week after his arrest on June 23 and police said it was in the best interest of the court not to bring him into the room.
Magistrate Howard Hamilton ordered Everingham to appear via audiovisual link on Tuesday June 30.
“He is exceedingly volatile and exceedingly violent,” he said.
On Tuesday Magistrate Hamilton adjourned the case to Central Local Court in Sydney on July 27.
Everingham also appeared via audiovisual link in Dubbo Local Court on different charges in May this year for contravening an apprehended violence order, malicious damage and escaping police custody.
He appeared before Magistrate Allan Moore who became subject to a tirade of verbal abuse after adjourning the matter.
“I will plead guilty to all of them you f.....g dog, I’m just sick of this s...,” he said before slamming the table repeatedly.
“You can stick your f.....g brief up your a.., you f.....g dog. Thanks a f.....g lot you motherf.....r.”
Everingham then proceeded to make a throat-slitting gesture.
The apprehended violence order was dismissed on June 3 after his de facto wife was found to have lied to police about domestic violence.
He was sentenced to three-months imprisonment for escaping police who had taken him to hospital for treatment following his arrest and was released on June 4.
NSW Police were seeking public assistance to locate the prisoner but warned people not to approach him but to call triple-0 immediately.
He is described as being of caucasian appearance, having a tanned complexion, is 180 centimetres tall with a medium build and short dark hair. He was last seen wearing prison greens.
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