Police recapture one of prison van escapees

One of the three prisoners who escaped from a prison van at Mangamaunu, near Kaikoura, yesterday was recaptured this morning.

Shannon Brent Flewellen, 25, was arrested by Kaikoura police just after 6am at Ohau Point, about 20km north of Kaikoura.

Flewellen was apprehended after he tried to hitch a ride from a motorist about 24km north of Kaikoura. The motorist alerted police, who picked him as he tried to evade them near the railway line.

He then gave himself up, police said in a statement.

Flewellen is now in custody, and will appear in Blenheim District Court this morning at 11am.

The two other escapees, Mark Cunningham, 34, and David Richard Parker, 26, were believed to have left the Kaikoura area, and there had been unconfirmed sightings throughout the night as far south as Christchurch of them, police said.

Cunningham is described as a male Caucasian, 176cm tall, with dyed blond hair, blue eyes, medium build, tattooed. He was remanded on three charges including burglary, robbery and injuring with intent to injure.

Parker is described as a male Caucasian, 183cm tall, brown hair, blue eyes, medium build. He has been remanded on a number of charges.

- NZPA