Escaped prisoner still on the run

An escaped prisoner is still loose today after a break-out from Wellington District Court cells yesterday.

Daniel Minogue, 23, a sentenced prisoner who was being held in the central city cells because of overcrowding at Upper Hutt's Rimutaka Prison, escaped with two other men who were later recaught.

But Minogue disappeared into bush as police chased him through the suburb of Khandallah, and was thought to have stolen a black Toyota Landcruiser from a driveway.

Police said he could be on his way to Taupo, where he was originally from.

Taupo police said this morning there had been no reported sightings of Minogue but officers may visit his known family and friends as routine.

Minogue was described as Maori with long black hair, a moustache and goatee beard, of thin build, with tattoos of a tui bird and a Maori design on his upper right arm.

The registration of the stolen vehicle was BQL777.

Minogue, along with prisoners Lance Roy Seymore Ludwig, 31, and Sonny Pritchard, 29, kicked their way out through an internal door at Wellington District Court and fled into central Wellington about 7.45am yesterday.

It is understood they took their chance when a fight broke out in a separate cell block, diverting the attention of Corrections Department officers.

A Khandallah resident called police about 12.25pm saying they had seen the men.

Police recaught Ludwig and Pritchard but Minogue escaped still wearing his prison sweatshirt with "Rimutaka Prison" written on the back.

The Corrections Department said steps were being taken to improve security at the court and the number of inmates being held there due to lack of space at Rimutaka -- currently 16 -- would be dropped.

The department would not comment on the circumstances surrounding the escape until a report was completed, and would not release specific details on the offenders.

The two captured prisoners were due in Wellington District Court today to face charges of escaping custody.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cotter, of Wellington CIB, said a police dog had recovered what was thought to be Minogue's Rimutaka Prison sweatshirt in bush where the other two men were caught yesterday.

"Minogue and the stolen vehicle have vanished off the face of the earth," he said.

Minogue had been serving jail time after being sentenced on property-related charges.

"He is not considered dangerous, but is obviously a desperate man who does not want to be in jail," Mr Cotter said.

- NZPA