'Houdini' continues to evade police

A fugitive nick-named Houdini for his numerous escape acts is continuing to give police the runaround. Photo / supplied

A fugitive, nick-named Houdini for his numerous escape acts, is continuing to give police the runaround.

Aaron Stephen Forden, 29, who once used bed linen as ropes to slide down the outside wall Auckland's Mt Eden Prison, fled after talking with his lawyer at Whangarei District Court, where he was due to appear on violence and dishonesty charges, on Friday.

He forced a bar from the grill separating his area from the lawyer's while alone in a secure interview room and disappeared.

Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said today that Forden was still at large.

"The search is continuing...we are actively looking for him in Auckland and Northland because that is where he has contacts."

Forden is described as Caucasian, about 175cm tall, of medium build.

He has short ginger hair and a goatee beard. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeved jacket, a black T-shirt, black jeans and black shoes.

- NZPA