Federal court judge admits error when jailing man in routine property dispute theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Last modified on Fri 15 Jan 2021 14.02 EST
Trapped in a prison van, terrified and confused, Mr Stradford began to hyperventilate.
The claustrophobia and anxiety was overwhelming him, according to court documents.
He says he started banging on the van’s door, begging to be let out.
The only response to his distress was from the two detainees being transported with him, he says.
One allegedly put his handcuffs around Stradford’s neck and tried to strangle him from behind.
“Shut the dog up,” the man uttered.
It had been about four days since Stradford stood in the federal circuit court before judge Salvatore Vasta, where, self-represented and without any legal experience, he was arguing a routine property settlement dispute with his ex-wife.