A man who had to be pepper-sprayed to prevent him from escaping a Halifax courthouse is back in custody.

Cory Cameron, 35, had been on statutory release since last summer after serving more than 15 years for offences including robberies, aggravated assaults, obstructing a peace officer and escaping lawful custody. That last charge relates to an incident at Halifax Provincial court in November of 2009.

At that time Cameron was being led into court to be arraigned on five charges, including assault and uttering death threats.

As soon as his handcuffs were removed, Cameron jumped over a railing at the Spring Garden Road courthouse and ran down to the first floor.

He was confronted there by a deputy sheriff who pepper-sprayed him, ending his escape attempt.

Cameron's latest trouble began New Year's Day of this year, after he was arrested in a bar where he had been drinking. One of the conditions of his release to a halfway house was that he abstain from alcohol.

He was also convicted of stealing a car while he was out. In revoking his statutory release, the Parole Board of Canada questioned Cameron's "good intentions."

"You continue to verbalize good intentions, but your decision to use alcohol as well become involved in criminal activity point towards an inability, at the present time, to match your intentions to your actions. The Parole Board has imposed a residence requirement.

"The Board considered your criminal history, your use of violence both in the community and while incarcerated and recent difficulties in complying with special conditions aimed at maintaining your abstinence."

On March 6, the Board imposed new conditions for whenever Cameron gets released again.

He must immediately report all intimate relationships with women and he is now prohibited from contacting anyone involved in criminal activity.

This condition is broader than an earlier order, which only prevented him from associating with people with criminal convictions.