Police are appealing to the public for sightings of Te Ariki Poulgrain, who escaped from Corrections custody this afternoon.
Te Ariki Poulgrain Photo: Supplied / NZ police
Police were notified by Corrections that the 23-year-old prisoner, who was at a medical facility in Grafton for an appointment, escaped at 1.30pm today.
Corrections Association president Alan Whitley said Poulgrain pushed away from a staff member attempting to fit a second pair of handcuffs.
He was being fitted with a second pair of cuffs, attached to a staff member, so he could be escorted to the appointment, Whitely said.
When the prisoner escaped, he was still wearing a pair of high security handcuffs which are particularly difficult to remove, Whitely said.
Police are assisting Corrections with trying to locate him and have been making extensive enquiries to try to find him.
He is described as about 183cm tall and of thin build and is considered dangerous and should not be approached.
He has known links to the Killer Beez gang.
Anyone who saw Poulgrain was asked to call 111 immediately.