A man tried to throw a chair at Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves while attempting to flee the courtroom yesterday.

Troy Eastmond, 39, of Derwent Lane, Devonshire, lashed out after being told he would be held in jail over the Christmas holiday.

Eastmond was in Magistrates' Court to pay outstanding fines but Mr. Greaves brought up an old charge of unlawful assault on a 13-year-old.

Eastmond said: “I came to court numerous times for it but it has been dropped.”

But Mr. Greaves said Eastmond did not appear for the assault trial on many different occasions.

A new trial date was set for February 2 and Mr. Greaves remanded Eastmond in custody until that date.

Eastmond fiercely told Mr. Greaves: “I've got two children to feed - have some compassion.”

Mr. Greaves then told the defendant to cool down but a furious Eastmond stood on the bench he was sitting on, jumped over another bench and tried to flee the courtroom, while shouting: “This is not right, this is not right.”

Several Police officers blocked Eastmond before he could escape and escorted him to Hamilton Police Station.

After the incident Mr. Greaves told the court that Eastmond will appear in Magistrates' Court again today to hear if he will be charged with contempt of court and if he will receive bail.