Runaway prisoner Alvone Maybury returned to court in front of crowds of spectators to be charged with escaping lawful custody.

The 24-year-old was flanked by several Police officers as they walked him from Hamilton Police Station to Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Dozens of onlookers gathered on Parliament Street to watch as the man dubbed the "Facebook Fugitive" had a less eventful passage along the street than last time.

He allegedly bolted from two prison guards on the same street on July 13 after being charged with three gun offences.

Hours later he was posting messages on his Facebook page about life on the run, bragging that he was "free as a bird".

Maybury was eventually apprehended at lunchtime on Tuesday when Police found him hiding in a garden shed in Pembroke.

When he was brought back to court the following day officers appeared to be taking no chances shackling his hands and his feet during the journey.

Maybury was glum-faced and silent throughout the brief court hearing, and was not required to enter a plea to the charge.

The slightly-built defendant was surrounded by so many burly guards that when Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo went to read the charge, he first had to inquire: "Where's Mr. Maybury?"

One he emerged into view, Maybury could be seen wearing a patterned T-shirt, grey jeans and sneakers. His shackles were removed during the court proceedings.

Mr. Tokunbo remanded him into custody until Friday, August 6 when a preliminary hearing is listed.

Both the gun charges and the escaping custody charge will eventually be dealt with at Supreme Court.

A young man and young woman were also arrested with Maybury on suspicion of aiding him in evading justice.

The Police have not revealed their names, and they were not charged in court.