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An escaped prisoner who left police red-faced by escaping a second time got away by strolling out Napier police station's front door after his cell was left unlocked.
Jayden Conroy was firmly handcuffed when he appeared in Napier District Court yesterday charged with escaping police custody and prison, and unlawfully taking a vehicle, The Dominion Post reported.
He was convicted and remanded in custody for sentencing on August 26.
Conroy escaped while on a work party on July 12, unlawfully taking a van from a house in Turangi. Napier police caught him on July 16.
Conroy appeared in court the next day charged with escaping prison and stealing a vehicle, and was taken to Napier police station, from where he escaped.
He was found four days later hiding under a bed at a house in the Napier suburb of Tamatea.
Police are investigating what happened but have said comparisons with New Zealand's most famous escaper George Wilder were a bit of a stretch.
- NZPA
