A Corowa man who couldn't be found by police for three years has finally fronted court over assault charges.
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Albury Local Court has been told that Matthew John Crombie simply could not be found since the events of March 7, 2016.
The 24-year-old now lives with his father and brother in a tent.
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While he was having mental health issues at the time, his solicitor, Daniel Maxton, told magistrate Rodney Brender that he had since achieved some stability in his life.
"He was a patient at (Albury hospital mental health unit) Nolan House," Mr Maxton said.
"He was due to be discharged and he got involved in a scuffle with another patient.
"He was not in the right head space at the time."
An arrest warrant was issued by the court in 2017, Mr Brender told Crombie in sentencing him, "because they didn't know were you were".
The court was told that both victims of the assaults were wardsmen in Nolan House.
It was about midday when Crombie was waiting for his discharge to be finalised.
"The accused has become angry for an unknown reason and has then received his discharge paperwork before being escorted out of the common area of the unit," police said.
A nearby patient decided that if he too became angry he would be discharged. Staff met his aggression by trying to restrain him on a chair.
"Whilst this was occurring, the accused has seen his friend being restrained and came back through an unlocked door."
Crombie grabbed the wardsmen in an attempt to free his friend.
Mr Brender released Crombie on a 12-month community corrections order.
