It was hardly an escape worthy of reproduction in a Hollywood blockbuster.
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Jesse Scott, 24, went on the run in August after a magistrate sentenced him to three months jail for possession of stolen property.
He pushed past guards in the courtroom, ran down the stairs of the ACT Magistrates Court, and escaped into Civic.
The stunt bought Scott three weeks of freedom, albeit on the run. But it also means he will now spend an extra four months behind bars.
Scott was captured in Hall last Friday after a two-hour search that included police sniffer dogs, car checks and a collision with unmarked police cars.
He pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court on Thursday to escaping lawful custody, drug driving, not displaying L-plates, and driving as an unaccompanied learner.
Defence lawyer Paul Edmonds said his client's breakout could not be characterised as an "escape from Alcatraz".
Mr Edmonds said the escape had been a "spontaneous" and "instinctive" response to the "distressing" news he would be jailed.
The defence lawyer said much of Scott's criminal history could be explained by his dysfunctional childhood, which led to drug and alcohol abuse.
The prosecution said Scott's decision to flee showed he had not accepted responsibility for his offences.
A pre-sentence report said Scott had little insight into his crimes and posed a high risk of reoffending.
Chief Justice Lorraine Walker fined Scott $800 for the traffic offences, and sentenced him to six months jail for escaping custody.
Ms Walker ordered the sentence be served partially concurrently with the existing three-month sentence.
Scott will be released in April next year.
In sentencing, Ms Walker said Scott's criminal history covered a wide spectrum of offences.
"You really appear to have no respect for the law," she said.
The magistrate urged Scott to take advantage of rehabilitation and stop using drugs and abusing alcohol.
Scott's supporters caused a commotion as they left court, calling guards "scummy dogs" and telling them they would "see them outside of work".
Ms Walker asked for the group to be returned, but the trio fled when guards called for them to stop.