A prisoner who escaped from a northern NSW prison has been arrested in Newcastle after almost 80 days on the run.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Marcus Kenneth Buchannan, 34, was serving a one-year sentence for assault when he escaped from a minimum security Glen Innes correctional centre with a second male prisoner on October 27.
Despite extensive police searches, Buchannan was not found until Thursday afternoon.
He was arrested on Steele Street about 1.40pm.
It is alleged that he robbed a department store and a supermarket at Kempsey, armed with a shortened firearm, on November 2.
Following a search of Buchannan, police allegedly found a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition and cannabis seeds.
He was taken to Newcastle police station and charged with escaping lawful custody, possessing ammunition without authority, possessing a prohibited drug, and two counts of robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon.
He has been refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Friday.