MONTEGO BAY, St James - A man who yesterday tried to jump his way to freedom from the third floor of the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, after pleading guilty to robbery with aggravation, sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised under police guard.

Desmond Stewart, who appeared to be in his late 20s and whose arrest was related to the theft of a cellphone, was being processed and fingerprinted when he jumped three storeys to the back of the courthouse.

Stewart reportedly sustained injuries to his leg and was unable to move from where he had landed. The incident, which took place about 11:30 in the morning, disrupted court proceedings for a brief period.

Stewart, a resident of the tough inner-city community of Barnett Lane in the city, had earlier appeared before Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tie, who was sitting in for Senior Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry.

The police said yesterday that Stewart would now be facing the additional charge of attempting to escape custody when he next appears in court.

Several glass windows were shattered during the escape bid.

Just a few years ago, a man who tried to escape custody in a similar manner, jumped to his death from the same building.

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