Salman Abu Samah, 29, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of robbery and to assaulting a police officer when trying unsuccessfully to escape.

The court found him suitable for corrective training, a regime for repeat offenders, which offers no chance of early release even for good behaviour.

His accomplice in the escape, Jamaluddin Salam, 32, will be sentenced on Oct 17. He had pleaded guilty last month to charges of escape, robbery and assaulting police officers

Court documents said that Salman, who worked as a pimp in Geylang before his arrest on March 26, had hurt and robbed a 25-year-old Bangladeshi construction worker of $80 a day earlier.

He also admitted to robbing $500 from a 23-year-old Sri Lankan housekeeper on Feb 17 in a Geylang hotel room.

Another robbery charge and attempted escape from custody was considered by District Judge Sargit Singh during sentencing.

Salman made his attempted dash for freedom with Jamaluddin while waiting in court for a pre-trial hearing.

While in the same cell in the basement of the Havelock Square court complex, Jamaluddin suggested to Salman that they make a run for it.

Jamaluddin asked for a drink of water from Corporal Donnie Lim, who opened the cell gate only to be punched repeatedly as the pair slipped out of the cell.

The escapees made their way through the courts' public area before Salman was arrested at the main entrance, while Jamaluddin ran off and was caught 50m away, near the Family Court.

A Criminal Investigation Department probe of the attempted escape is ongoing.