Vaughan Grimston, who escaped from Cessnock Correctional Centre yesterday, has been arrested and will face court today.
The 30-year-old inmate was reported missing from the minimum-security Lindsay Street facility around 11.15am yesterday.
There are reports the opportunistic inmate found a staff member’s car keys, that were accidentally dropped on the employee’s way in to work, and then fled in their car.
Around 6pm last night, police received calls from a person who had seen a man matching the description of Grimston at Cooper Street at Cessnock.
Police searched the area and arrested Grimston a short time later in King Street.
A car, believed to have been used by the inmate, was also seized.
Grimston was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with escaping lawful custody, along with a string of other offences in relation to him allegedly taking the prison employee’s car.
He has been refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today.
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