Inmates on run 'won't get far'

Police hunting for two escaped prisoners north of Kaikoura say the longer they stay on the run the worse it will be when they are caught. They could be sentenced for up to seven years in jail.

Mark Cunningham, 34, and David Richard Parker, 26, broke out through the roof hatch of a police van on Wednesday, along with Shannon Brent Flewellen, 25. The van had stopped at Mangamaunu for roadworks on State Highway 1.

The three men, along with several other prisoners who did not try to escape from the van, were being transported to Christchurch Prison.

Flewellen was recaptured early on Thursday morning 4km north of where they escaped.

Senior Sergeant Stu Koeford, of Nelson, said yesterday the charge of escaping from police custody carried a maximum penalty of seven years.

He was confident both men would be caught. "It's just simply a matter of time. Their liberty will be transitory."

Flewellen appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday on the charge of escaping police custody and was remanded without plea until Tuesday to reappear at the Nelson District Court.

"He won't be getting bail, you can be sure of that," Mr Koeford said.

Cunningham and Parker had probably left the Kaikoura area, he said, but police were checking baches.

The area where the men escaped was remote and bleak.

"There's nothing there but hills and scrub. Even if they went further inland there is absolutely nothing there apart from mountain ranges," he said.

"It wouldn't surprise me if they hand themselves in."

Mr Koeford said improvements had now been made to the hatches of the police vans to make them more secure.

Cunningham is described as a skinhead type, 34, European, of medium build and 176cm tall, and Parker is 26, European, of medium build and 183cm tall. Cunningham is considered dangerous.

- NZPA