Darren Christopher Hawes, 45, had allegedly been on run from Vic Police for two months

A man used his lottery winnings to remain on the run from police who wanted him on child exploitation charges, police will allege.

A MAN used his lottery winnings to remain on the run from Victorian police who wanted him on child exploitation charges, police will allege.

Darren Christopher Hawes, 45, had allegedly been on the run for more than two months after failing to appear in a Victorian court on charges of possessing, producing and having access to child abuse material.

Victoria police contacted Townsville detectives last week and told them to keep an eye out for Hawes, and said they believed he was using his lottery winnings to remain at large since missing a court date in February.

DARREN CHRISTOPHER HAWES FACED THE TOWNSVILLE MAGISTRATES COURT ON APRIL 27 BEFORE BEING EXTRADITED TO VICTORIA.

Local police had been trailing Hawes for a number of days before picking him up in Townsville in the early hours of Friday.

Police will allege that Hawes was screen recording the child abuse material off the internet and storing it on his device.

He was meant to face his charges in Victoria on February 24, but never showed.

Townsville Police were initially tipped off by Victoria Police that Hawes had arrived in town early last week, and they would be seeking his extradition.

Police were initially alerted that Hawes could be potentially funding his movements interstate with a win from the Gold Lotto.

Child Protection and Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said police immediately started keeping a close eye on him.

“That resulted in him being placed under surveillance and ultimately due to his behaviour he was arrested,” Sen-Sgt Miles said.

In the early hours of Friday morning, police arrested him in Flinders St East after he was spotted drawing “adverse attention” to himself on an electric scooter.

When he was arrested, police found him with just $20 in his pocket and no evidence of an excessive amount of money.

Police are yet to recover any lottery winnings.

Sen-Sgt Miles said Hawes had no clear connections with Townsville.

Hawes appeared in custody in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

A warrant for Hawes’ extradition to Victoria was executed and he was released into the custody of Sergeant Patrick Grelis of the Central Victoria Response Group.

Hawes was sent back south on Tuesday afternoon.

Hawes will appear in the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 29.

Originally published as Darren Christopher Hawes, 45, had allegedly been on run from Vic Police for two months