Police were forced to give chase on Friday when a handcuffed prisoner made a break for freedom after being remanded to face a Magistrates? Court trial.

John DaCosta, 47, of no fixed abode, broke away from two Police officers as he was being led back to Hamilton Police Station, from the morning plea court session.

But with the assistance of some members of the public and a Crown counsel, DaCosta was taken back into custody, Police sources said.

He ran up Court Street, but for some reason ran back down again and was stopped at the corner of Reid and Court Street. Police may now charge DaCosta with attempting to escape Police custody.

DaCosta pleaded not guilty to five counts of breaching a domestic violence protection order between March 25 and April 27 by trying to make contact with Fiona Paynter.

DaCosta also denied assaulting and causing bodily harm to Ms Paynter in Warwick on March 25.

The maximum sentence for these offences is a year in prison, Crown counsel Wayne Caines said.

DaCosta had to be continuously told by Police to be quiet while Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner was speaking to him in court.

?Do not speak while I?m speaking,? Mr. Warner said. ?I?ve listened to you carefully. I can give you a trial in a very short time.?

DaCosta was remanded to appear in court for his trial on Tuesday.

When he was led out of court, he made his unsuccessful escape attempt.