Police catch two of three escaped prisoners

WELLINGTON - Police have caught two prisoners who escaped from Wellington District Court cells this morning, but suspect a third may have fled in a stolen vehicle.

A hunt was launched this morning after the trio kicked their way out through an internal door and fled into central Wellington wearing prison-issued clothing about 7.45am.

The trio were sentenced prisoners being temporarily housed in the building's cells due to a shortage of prison space.

Police said they had taken advantage of Corrections Department staff "being elsewhere" at the time.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cotter, of Wellington police said this afternoon that someone in the suburb of Khandallah, about 6km from where the prisoners escaped, called police about 12.25pm saying they had seen men matching the description of the prisoners.

Police converged on the area and caught Lance Roy Seymore Ludwig, 31, and Sonny Pritchard, 29, but a third, Daniel Minogue, 23, disappeared into a bush.

Mr Cotter said that minutes later police received a report of a black Toyota Landcruiser being stolen from the driveway of a nearby house.

He said it was likely Minogue stole the vehicle and police believed he may attempt to head toward Taupo, where he was originally from.

Mr Cotter said the prisoners were still wearing prison sweatshirts with "Rimutuka Prison" written on the back when caught.

Minogue is described as Maori with long black hair, copper complexion, moustache and goatee beard. He is 180cm tall, of thin build, with tattoos of a tui bird and a Maori design on his upper right arm. The registration of the stolen vehicle is BQL777.

A Corrections Department statement issued this afternoon said 16 prisoners were currently being held in Wellington District Court cells, which were used as a last resort when prisons and police cells were full.

Corrections regional manager Dave East said steps were now being taken to improve security at the court and the number of inmates being held there would be dropped in the meantime.

"However, we have no choice but to hold some inmates in the court cells until space becomes available either in police cells or at a prison."

Mr East said the department would not comment on the circumstances surrounding the escape until a report on the matter was completed.

Specific details regarding the offenders would not be released either.

- NZPA