A man attempted to escape from court yesterday after he was remanded in custody on a string of charges.Howard Ascento, 31, jumped out of the dock, pushed past a police officer and ran out of Magistrates’ Court after his request for bail was denied by senior magistrate Juan Wolffe.But he was caught before he could leave the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building and taken into police custody.A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said that “quick action” by a police officer had thwarted Mr Ascento’s escape.He said: “Mr Ascento vaulted the secure holding area and ran from the courtroom, pushing past a police officer.“However, a second police officer pursued and detained him before he was able to exit the court building.”The spokesman said Mr Ascento was handed over to Department of Corrections staff to be taken to the Westgate Correctional Facility.Mr Ascento, from Smith’s, earlier pleaded not guilty to three charges of breach of a domestic violence protection order.It is alleged that he approached inside 100 metres of the woman in the order on December 19 last year and March 1 this year.It is further alleged that he sent the woman messages on social media on March 4.Mr Ascento also faces charges of phoning the woman on April 2 last year and using threatening language.The court heard that he pleaded not guilty to the charges on April 11 last year and was released on bail.Mr Wolffe said that Mr Ascento excused himself from the courtroom when he awaited a hearing on November 16, 2018 and left the building.He adjourned the case until November 18.Mr Ascento was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm to another woman, the theft of her car and keys and depriving her of her freedom on September 4 last year.The offences are alleged to have been committed in Pembroke.He pleaded not guilty to the charges on November 2 and was released on bail.Mr Wolffe ordered Mr Ascento to return on October 24 for a trial date to be set.• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.