MICHAEL Stanton of 78 Herstelling Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara allegedly escaped from police custody after being arrested for assaulting his reputed wife, but he was yesterday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

The charge of escaping from lawful custody had been indictably laid, but Stanton pleaded guilty after agreeing for the matter to be heard in the lower court.

Stanton, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting Andrea Skeete at OMG Restaurant and Bar on Monday, July 15, and he was granted $5000 bail on that charge.

Prosecutor Dinero Jones told the court that on Sunday, August 11, the defendant was arrested by Constable Akeem Lewis following a complaint made by his reputed wife. It was, however, found that he had been injured during the said incident. As a result, he was taken to the Georgetown Hospital to receive medical attention. It was while he was being held there that he ran out of the hospital and ran onto the streets.
He was chased by the constable and caught, and charged for escaping from lawful custody.

Stanton said nothing in mitigation for his offence, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

The initial charge of assault which had led to his arrest, to which he pleaded not guilty, will be tried on September 13.