Escaped Waikeria Prison inmate recaptured

An inmate who escaped from Te Awamutu's Waikeria Prison this week has been recaptured.

Robert John Wikaere, 19, was arrested without incident at a Rotorua property about 2pm today.

He would appear at Rotorua District Court tomorrow morning, police said.

Wikaere escaped from the minimum security prison around 6.30am on Tuesday.

The alarm was raised after he was seen running across paddocks at the rear of jail.

- NZPA