Two men who escaped from Waikato's Waikeria Prison have been remanded in custody after they were caught near Dargaville on Saturday.
Jessie Lee Ibell, 24, and Wayne Holmes, 23, escaped from their cells at Waikeria Prison near Te Awamutu early last Thursday and were caught after a tipoff.
The pair appeared in Whangarei District Court today on a charge of escaping from lawful custody and were remanded in custody to appear in Hamilton District Court on June 18.
The pair allegedly escaped in a stolen car as Department of Corrections staff searched for them in the grounds of the prison.
Detective Sergeant Ross Patterson from Te Awamutu police said the car was abandoned in Kerepehi in the Hauraki Plains about noon on Thursday. The pair were on remand at the prison awaiting a court appearance.
