The man who escaped from the Goulburn Correctional Centre on October 5 has appeared in court.
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Mark Edward Tazelaar, 37, an inmate in the NSW prison system, appeared in Goulburn Local Court via audio-visual link on November 7.
He pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody.
Police facts tendered in court said Tazelaar was classified as a minimum security inmate who was serving time mainly for traffic offences.
The facts said on October 5 at 12.40pm, Tazelaar was working in the demountable work yard within the jail and was among 45 inmates being mustered to be placed back in X-Wing.
As they were mustered and prepared to go back to their cells, Tazelaar was seen running between the demountable buildings and out of sight. Corrections officers gave chase but lost sight of him soon after.
Officers immediately notified security and a head count was taken. The other inmates were locked down in their cells.
Police were notified and a search of the area was commenced involving the Hume Police District, general duties police, the Police Rescue Squad, drones, detectives and NSW Police College staff. They were unable to locate him.
About 12.45am on October 7, police attended an address in Seven Hills where they located Tazelaar hiding under a bed. He was handcuffed and arrested.
“You have the wrong person,” Tazelaar said to police.
“Do your checks and you will see.”
He was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged.
A Corrective Services spokesperson said they could not provide further details of Tazelaar’s escape until he is sentenced on November 20 in Parramatta Drug Court.