Sunjay Dayal, 35, was arrested with his partner Leanne Curtis on Friday morning more than 600km from where he was performing volunteer duties in the Illawarra earlier this week.

The Illawarra Reintegration Centre prisoner absconded from Mount Keira Scout Camp on Wednesday while doing maintenance jobs on work-day release.

Read more: Unanderra escapee took a $200 cab ride to freedom

Curtis, 39, pleaded not guilty to knowingly harbouring, maintaining or employing an escaped inmate in Coffs Harbour Local Court

Coffs/Clarence Police District officers arrested Dayal and Curtis on a train about 12.20am at Coffs Harbour.

The arrests came after a state-wide appeal for assistance when Dayal, who is serving a one year and three month sentence for assault, was reported missing.

Dayal, who was with nine other inmates, was present at the 10.30am muster, but went missing at the 11.50am muster.

He was supervised by one Corrective Services officer from the Illawarra Reintegration Centre.

Police believe Dayal walked away from the scout camp, found a house, called for and went on a $200 taxi ride, and met his girlfriend in Liverpool.

Dayal will appear at Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday.

Curtis will appear at the same court on August 27.