Bridgetown man Damien Clinton Ahern allegedly made false claim he had coronavirus before escape attempt

A Bridgetown man who allegedly falsely claimed he had COVID-19 while in police custody has been released on bail. Damien Clinton Ahern appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court via video link from Bunbury Regional Prison today. The 28-year-old is facing 10 charges including one count of creating a false belief, escaping from lawful custody and criminal damage or destruction of property. Police allege that on Saturday, March 28 after being arrested over allegations of aggravated assault and criminal damage, Mr Ahern claimed he had COVID-19 while in custody. Police then took the accused to Bridgetown Hospital, where he allegedly attempted to escape from custody, before being recaptured and handcuffed for a medical assessment to be completed. He also faced one count of possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, common assault in circumstances of aggravation or racial aggravation, behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place or in sight or hearing of any person in a public place, on top of four driving charges. On Friday his case was adjourned after the address he provided for bail was one of 12 Bridgetown Police had deemed unsuitable for reasons including drugs in a list provided to the court. Today two new addresses were put forward and Mr Ahern was granted bail to one of them with a $1000 personal undertaking under conditions he is not to consume alcohol or illicit substances, must abide by a curfew and present to police when they attended the address. He will reappear on May 7.