TWO men who allegedly escaped from Glen Innes prison have been refused bail after being captured in Armidale in a dramatic chase.
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Robert John Riley and Trent Wayne Porter spent just one night on the run after allegedly escaping from the minimum security Glen Innes Correctional Centre on Friday afternoon.
The pair appeared in an out-of-sessions bail hearing in Armidale Local Court on Sunday morning facing new charges following their arrest on Saturday morning.
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Police conducted a large scale manhunt for Riley, aged 49, and Porter, aged 32, after they were reported missing from the correctional centre on the Gwydir Highway about 4.30pm on Friday.
New England police made a public appeal to find the pair, with officers scouring the highway and nearby townships on Friday night looking for the men.
On Saturday morning, police allege the pair were in a car which failed to stop, sparking a pursuit on the New England Highway at Armidale at about 10am.
Extra police were called to back up general duties police, and the car was then abandoned in Beardy Street.
Police searched the area and found two men hiding in a nearby house.
Officers said the pair were arrested without incident and taken to Armidale Police Station for questioning.
No one was injured during the arrest which shocked local residents.
Riley is facing charges of escaping from lawful custody, taking and driving a conveyance, police pursuit under Skye’s Law, larceny, entering enclosed private lands and driving an unregistered and uninsured car.
Porter was charged with escape from lawful custody, being carried in a conveyance and entering enclosed private property.
The pair were refused bail during the brief court appearance on Sunday and were not required to enter pleas to the charges.
Porter and Riley have been ordered to remain behind bars and will reappear in Armidale Local Court again this week.