Man on run after fleeing court

A fleet-footed prisoner is this morning on the run and has sparked a massive police search after running out of Whangarei District Court to freedom.

Jonathan Herewini, 20, was appearing in court shortly before midday yesterday when he jumped over the dock and ran out the front door, sprinted down a stairwell, bolted outside and on to the street.

Witnesses were stunned at Herewini's speed as he out-ran a chasing police officer.

Herewini was being represented by duty solicitor Kelly Johnson when the drama unfolded. "It all happened very quickly, in about 1.5 seconds," Mr Johnson said.

"He moved extremely quickly."

Police had opposed bail for Herewini -- who had been brought up from the holding cells -- just seconds before and as Mr Johnson was talking on his client's behalf, Herewini launched out of the dock.

Whangarei lawyer Roger Bowden was at the court's downstairs counter when the man escaped.

"I heard a very loud noise and looked around to see him flying down the stairs holding on to the rail basically.

"He was last seen heading north. 30 or so seconds later a police constable came puffing after him," Mr Bowden said.

He said the escaper might have a potential career as a professional athlete, given the speed of his escape.

Only justices of the peace, Mr Johnson, a police prosecutor and Herewini were in the courtroom at the time of the escape, and nobody was injured.

The Ministry of Justice, which administers courts, would only confirm a person who had been arrested for breaching bail conditions escaped from custody while appearing in the Whangarei District Court.

Whangarei police Sergeant Steve Dixon said Herewini was arrested on Wednesday and had been in police custody.

The man "headed for the hills" once he had escaped from the court.

Police searched a bush walk for Herewini but police dogs were not used in the search because of the high foot traffic in town during the day, Mr Dixon said.

Police do not consider Herewini dangerous and have launched an inquiry to establish how he escaped.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)