Melbourne man jailed for trying to escape quarantine while infected with COVID-19

A Melbourne man who repeatedly tried to escape quarantine when he was infected with COVID-19 has been jailed for months for putting the community "in grave danger".

Nathan Hetherington, 22, fronted Melbourne Magistrates' Court today, pleading guilty to charges including conduct endangering serious injury and criminal damage.

Hetherington was in the secure COVID-19 ward at Melbourne psychiatric hospital, The Albert Road Clinic, when he tried to escape the facility three times last month.

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The court heard he was also withdrawing from ice on the three days last month that he trashed the building and tried to escape.

When he was told he had to isolate for 14 days, Hetherington kicked down doors and punched holes in the walls, and repeatedly breached the 'High risk red zone'.

During one escape attempt, Hetherington managed to get out of the fire exit, flee the building and get onto a tram on St Kilda Road.

He was arrested further down the road.

Prosecutors slammed Hetherington's "self centred attitude towards his community".

"He has no care about anyone other than himself," a prosecutor said.

The magistrate agreed, telling Hetherington: "The danger of what you did to the community is enormous."

"There has to be a jail term for that."