Ali Chahine did not plan his escape from a Sydney court before going on the run for five days, his defence says.
Chahine, 33, jumped from the dock and assaulted two officers as he fled from Sydney's District Court last September, while awaiting sentence for numerous charges including drug supply.
Chahine's lawyer, Greg James QC, said on Friday his client's escape was "not of planning but of panic".
The court heard that in the months before the escape, Chahine was stabbed numerous times while in custody and, while out on bail, was bashed and thrown out of a moving vehicle by people trying to collect a debt.
"Being in jail for him has been extremely onerous," Mr James said.
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Being arrested with close to 7g of illicit drugs and facing more time in custody contributed to a "frantic panic", the defence said.
"He reached a point in his parole period which notoriously imposed a burden of anxiety," Mr James said.
Chahine's defence handed up psychological reports which note their client had suffered from symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.
Having a history of drug abuse and the small quantity of drugs found on Chahine showed that he was only a minor dealer for the primary reason to "feed his own habit".
"He was a very low-range street dealer selling to supply his own habit," Mr James said.
The Crown argued attempts at rehabilitation had failed, as just one month before Chahine fled court, he was kicked out of a drug rehabilitation clinic and had breached his bail.
The apparent lack of premeditation in escaping didn't reduce the need for deterrence, the Crown argued.
"It is an offence the court should take seriously," Crown prosecutor Ben Page said.
Chahine was caught at a unit in the inner-city suburb of Alexandria on September, five days after he fled the court and boarded a bus barefoot.
Chahine will be sentenced on June 10.
