NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Greymouth man's attempt to escape court naked foiled

Other
15 Mar, 2018 01:52 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

It took a police officer, prison guard, police prosecutor and a probation officer to restrain a man who ripped off his prison gown and bounded out of the Greymouth District Court dock stark naked yesterday. Stock Photo / 123RF

It took a police officer, prison guard, police prosecutor and a probation officer to restrain a man who ripped off his prison gown and bounded out of the Greymouth District Court dock stark naked yesterday. Stock Photo / 123RF

A man appearing in the Greymouth District Court yesterday caused a commotion when he ripped off his prison gown, bounded out of the dock stark naked and made a break for the exit.

Dylan James Ellis was arrested on Tuesday on a warrant for theft and various drugs charges, and allegedly eye gouged the arresting officer, who had to seek hospital treatment.

Ellis was brought into the courtroom yesterday yelling and screaming that he could not be sent back to jail. The rant continued in the dock, saying he needed help and then made accusations against the police.

As his tirade went on Ellis suddenly ripped off the prison gown and, naked, jumped over the top of the dock.

It took a police officer, prison guard, the Greymouth police prosecutor and a probation officer to restrain him, and he was then removed from the court.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The mental health crisis team was called to assess Ellis and before he reappeared, Judge Anthony Couch was informed that Ellis did not have any psychological or mental health issues.

Duty lawyer Vikki Walsh applied for bail but the judge said Ellis had behaved badly when he first appeared, granting a request from the prosecution to handcuff him when he was brought back before the court.

Back in the dock, Ellis was told he needed to try to stay calm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Walsh said Ellis was not aware there had been a warrant out for his arrest after his failure to appear in the Westport court, as he was stuck in Timaru at the time and had contacted the court to ask for an adjournment.

"His case was not adjourned and a warrant issued, which was to lie in court until March 6, in case Ellis made a voluntary appearance," Walsh said.

However, when police discovered he was at a Cobden address and not the Greymouth address he had been bailed to, they went to apprehend him.

"When he saw the police arrive he put on someone else's pants and hid in a cupboard."

Judge Couch said the police opposed bail because Ellis was not welcome at the address given for bail.

The judge said it had been a difficult day for the defendant.

"He was very distressed when he first appeared and discarded the clothing he had been provided and attempted to run from the court and he had to be physically restrained. Later, when the defendant was sufficiently calmed down, he was brought back to court."

Judge Couch stressed that Ellis had not attempted to harm anyone - "he just wanted to escape from a situation which had made him profoundly distressed".

The judge said the situation was complex, with three sets of charges.

Ellis faces theft charges from December 22, threatening language charges from Westport earlier in December and new charges relating from his arrest on Tuesday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Those charges include assaulting police, possession of cannabis seeds, possession of methamphetamine utensils, disorderly behaviour and assault with intent to injure.

Police said Ellis had eye-gouged one police officer, who needed hospital treatment.

"When he was subdued it is alleged he was in possession of a P pipe and 150 cannabis seeds, although the defendant says they were not his as he was wearing someone else's trousers."

Judge Couch said Ellis had a moderate criminal history, including being jailed in 2016 for unlawful possession of a firearm and escaping custody.

"His history also includes possession of an offensive weapon and there are numerous instances of threatening behaviour."

He said there was strong evidence Ellis would offend again while on bail.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Bail will be declined and the defendant will be remanded in custody."

Ellis pleaded to the judge as he was being escorted from the court for bail, promising that he would not breach again.

The judge did grant leave for application to be made for an electronically monitored bail application, after remanding him until March 28.

- Greymouth Star

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

New Four Square and shops planned for Taradale town centre

12 Jul 06:00 PM
New Zealand

‘Still there’: Removal of logging machine sent tumbling over cliff proving tricky

12 Jul 05:59 PM
Premium
Auckland

'Negligent': First mother-baby HIV cases diagnosed in NZ in 20 years

12 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Four Square and shops planned for Taradale town centre

New Four Square and shops planned for Taradale town centre

12 Jul 06:00 PM

The existing Taradale Four Square would be demolished and rebuilt under the proposal.

‘Still there’: Removal of logging machine sent tumbling over cliff proving tricky

‘Still there’: Removal of logging machine sent tumbling over cliff proving tricky

12 Jul 05:59 PM
Premium
'Negligent': First mother-baby HIV cases diagnosed in NZ in 20 years

'Negligent': First mother-baby HIV cases diagnosed in NZ in 20 years

12 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Editorial: Using immigration as a primary tool to drive economic growth is risky business

Editorial: Using immigration as a primary tool to drive economic growth is risky business

12 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP