9.30pm: Beau Wiles, the Bellambi man who escaped from Goulburn jail on Wednesday and was caught in a car at Unanderra more than 30 hours later, has been charged.
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Wiles was charged with escaping lawful custody on Thursday night and refused bail to appear in Port Kembla Local Court on Friday.
Lake Illawarra police duty officer Acting Inspector Matt Glasgow told the Mercury one of the women arrested during Thursday afternoon’s car stop, a 43-year-old from Fairy Meadow, was released without charge.
The second woman, a 32-year-old from Wollongong, is still assisting police.
6.30pm: The Bellambi man who fled Goulburn jail was the back-seat passenger in a blue Holden Barina when caught in Unanderra on Thursday afternoon, police claim.
Lake Illawarra police duty officer Acting Inspector Matt Glasgow said the car was pulled over by police as it headed north on the Five Islands Road off-ramp from the M1 Princes Motorway about 5.10pm.
Earlier on Thursday, police released details of a black Holden Commodore, believed to have been used to transport 25-year-old Beau Wiles, who fled Goulburn jail about 10am Wednesday.
However, Acting Inspector Glasgow told the Mercury the car stopped at Unanderra – about 160km from the Goulburn Correctional Centre – was a blue Holden Barina.
“It was just a standard highway stop and the police recognised him in the back seat,” he said.
“He wasn’t driving, he was in the back.”
Wiles was arrested, along with two women in the vehicle.
The women, aged 32 and 43, are being questioned at Lake Illawarra police station. Wiles has been taken to Wollongong.
“He’ll obviously be charged for the escape custody and the others are just assisting police with their inquiries,” he said.
The arrest brings to an end a 31-hour manhunt.
Wiles was last seen at a work area outside the minimum security section within the Goulburn Correctional Complex just before 10am on Wednesday.
Acting Inspector Glasgow was unable to confirm the relationship between Wiles and the two women, at this stage.
5.45pm: A Bellambi man who escaped from Goulburn prison has been arrested in Unanderra.
Police stopped a vehicle on Five Islands Road, Unanderra, about 5.10pm on Thursday.
Officers identified a passenger as 25-year-old Beau Wiles, who escaped from Goulburn Correctional Centre on Wednesday.
He has been arrested. Two women in the vehicle have also been arrested.
They have all been taken to local police stations where they are assisting with inquiries.
More to come.