Canberra man Craig Joseph Stevens, who fled from court on Friday after a jury found him guilty of rape, has apologised to the presiding judge, saying he ran because he was scared for his safety.
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Stevens, 37, had been on trial in the ACT Supreme Court last week charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, stemming from incidents in May and June 2015.
On Friday, the jury had returned two verdicts of guilty, but was undecided on the remaining two charges. Justice David Mossop sent the jurors back out to continue their deliberations.
The judge changed Stevens' bail conditions to require he not leave the courts precinct. However, he exited the court and fled.
Later that afternoon the jury returned with another two verdicts of guilty, which were accepted by the court in Stevens' absence. His bail was revoked and a warrant issued for his arrest.
In a press release on Thursday, ACT Policing said Stevens violently resisted arrest when they found him in the passenger seat of a car during a routine traffic stop in Gungahlin, about 3am on March 9.
Police said one officer sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.
On Thursday, Stevens appeared before Justice Mossop.
"Your Honour I do apologise," he said.
"I was just very scared for my safety."
He protested his innocence, and told the judge if released on bail he would report to police daily and return to court when needed. He said he wanted to spend the last bit of time with his family.
However, there was no formal application for bail, and the rape matters were scheduled to return on May 17 for sentencing.
Earlier on Thursday, Stevens had fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on two fresh charges of resisting a public official.
There was no application for bail before Magistrate Beth Campbell.
The magistrate remanded him in custody on the two resist charges, and they were adjourned to March 30.
