The case of a Barrack Heights man accused of escaping from prison officers while at Wollongong Hospital for treatment will return to court in February.
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Ian Charles Austin allegedly assaulted Corrective Services officers and fled from the hospital between 3.30pm and 4pm on November 22 last year, just a day after he appeared in court charged over a string of armed robberies in the Illawarra.
He was apprehended in Staff Street a short time later.
The list of charges against Austin include two armed robbery offences, as well as one attempted armed robbery, and a robbery in company.
Police allege he used a knife, a sword and a firearm in three of the four separate robberies, two of which occurred at the same Unanderra premises within a month of each other.
Austin allegedly made off with upwards of $6000 cash as a result of the crimes.
It is also alleged he was involved in an aggravated break and enter at Albion Park Rail in October.
Austin was excused from appearing before the court via videolink on Wednesday, as his lawyer sought an adjournment to allow for the prosecution to serve its brief of evidence in the cases.
He was remanded in custody to reappear at court on February 18.
