A young man was infectious with COVID-19 when he twice escaped from a supposedly secure recovery clinic in Melbourne inside three days, a court has heard.
The 22-year-old was issued with a detention notice and transferred to the Albert Road Clinic, a recovery facility that houses people with mental health problems, prosecutor Sergeant Geoff Adams said. But three times between September 16 and 18 he breached the centre’s “red zone” by kicking and damaging doors, and twice got out of the building and onto the street.
Then on September 18 he smashed a window to exit the clinic and rode on the back of a city-bound tram before he entered the grounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Police arrested him and he was taken to prison.Police allege Mr Hetherington posed a risk to public safety while he knew he was COVID-positive. He is charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage and other offences and is yet to enter a plea.
Mr Hetherington, a former labourer, had since tested negative for COVID-19 in nine out of 10 tests, Mr Tut said, and wanted to renew contact with his sisters and rehabilitate after the “wake-up call” of a stint in prison.