A man who sparked a national police search after leaving South Australia has been sentenced to at least seven months in jail for theft and driving offences.
Allan John Hopkins, 45, was wanted over alleged serious sexual offending involving a child under the age of 18 in SA, and for offending in other states.
Hopkins was arrested on Monday after a search involving police from SA, NSW, Queensland and Victoria and a public call-out for information as to his whereabouts.
He appeared in the Moree Local Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to driving dangerously to escape police pursuit, driving a vehicle without the consent of the owner, stealing a motor vehicle and breaking and entering a house and stealing items to a value of less than $60,000.
Hopkins was immediately sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of seven months.
The court heard Hopkins told NSW police he had taken tablets and said, “just shoot me, I’ve got a knife … it’s okay, I’m going away for life anyway”.
The court was also informed that Hopkins had a history of mental health issues including suicidal ideation and was at risk of self-harm.
His solicitor reported that he also had serious physical health problems, having had double bypass heart surgery, and was on heart medication.
SA police said they would apply to have Hopkins extradited towards the end of his sentence in NSW so that he can be arrested for the alleged serious offending against a child.
On Friday, Detective Superintendent Scott Fitzgerald said police could not go into more detail about the circumstances of those allegations.
South Australian police said he was also wanted for offending in Victoria and Queensland.
The earliest Hopkins will be released for the recent driving offences is December.
He has also been disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for 12 months.
