Police say prison escapee, forced woman to be getaway driver

A prison escapee has been recaptured after he allegedly confronted a nurse and made her drive him away.

A nurse has described her fear after a prison escapee allegedly attacked her and forced her to be his getaway driver.

Police sprung into action shortly after midday on Monday following reports an inmate at a prison in Long Bay in Sydney’s south had escaped.

The inmate, Jason Neil Melbon, allegedly assaulted mother-of-three Rachelle, who was unpacking her groceries in her driveway, in her home on Esperance Cl in Little Bay.

NSW Police said the inmate allegedly then made her get behind the wheel of a car he stole from the same street after she refused to give him her car key.

Rachelle was allegedly carjacked by the prison escapee on Tuesday. Picture: Nine News

Rachelle told Nine News the man had yelled at her, saying “I need a key, I need to take this car, give me your car”.

“I saw blood on him so I was quite scared, he told me he just got out of jail.

“He did tell me he wouldn’t hurt me as long as I did what he told me to do.

“My heart was racing but what was going through my mind was ‘when can I run? When can I make a run for it?’”

The pair drove to Sydney’s south.

It’s alleged when the car came to a stop on Battye Ave at Beverly Park, the man fled on foot but was arrested a short time later after a police pursuit.

Police responded to reports of an inmate at a prison in Long Bay in Sydney’s south had escaped. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The 43-year-old man was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with being inmate escaping from lawful custody.

He also faces two counts of aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence, car theft, and detaining a person.

The woman was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital for observation.

SIn a statement, a Corrective Services NSW spokesman said it was first noticed that the man was missing at 12.30pm. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

In a statement, a Corrective Services NSW spokesman told The Daily Telegraph it was first noticed that he was missing at 12.30pm.

“The centre was immediately placed into locked down and specialist response officers deployed to patrol the perimeter,” the statement said.

“Officers identified the inmate as missing from the external grounds-maintenance crew.

“NSW Police apprehended the man at about 1.05pm. CSNSW will review the incident.

“When an inmate has previously escaped or attempted to escape from prison, they are reclassified to an escape category.

“That prevents them being held in minimum-security facilities in the future.”

Originally published as Police say prison escapee, forced woman to be getaway driver