Police hunt Barry Dettman who escaped Langi Kal Kal Prison
A CONVICTED pervert who walked out of a minimum-security prison in central western Victoria has been sighted in Melbourne’s west.
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A CONVICTED pervert who walked out of a minimum-security prison in central western Victoria has been sighted.
Police said on Monday morning that Fugitive Taskforce members have confirmed a sighting of Barry Dettman, 51, on Sunday.
Investigators believe Dettman, who escaped from the prison in Trawalla near Beaufort, was sighted in Werribee about 5pm.
A manhunt was launched on Sunday after Dettman escaped from Langi Kal Kal Prison, 160km west of Melbourne. It’s believed he had up to three hours’ head start on police.
He was last seen walking east along the Western Highway in Trawalla about 10am.
Police remain unsure how a convicted criminal was able to walk out of the prison in central western Victoria.
Dettman was jailed for committing indecent acts in the presence of a child and wilful and obscene exposure.
The escape comes as the state deals with an extraordinary crime wave.
Victoria’s overall crime rate rose by 10.2 per cent in 2016.
The Herald Sun has been told that Dettman would not have been able to escape from prison during the night because prisoners were in lockdown.
Lockdown is lifted about 8am so authorities believe Dettman escaped at some point after that.
A prisoner count only took place shortly before 11am when police told prison staff they had received a report of a possible escape — after the member of the public spotted Dettman.
Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Phyland, of Victoria Police Crime Command, said he could not explain how Dettman managed to walk out.
“I haven’t all those details (about how Dettman escaped),” Sen-Sgt Phyland said.
“It is a lower-security prison.
“We would ask people who sight Mr Dettman or who are aware of his whereabouts to contact triple 0 and not to approach him.”
Victorian Mental Health Minister Martin Foley slammed the prison farm for “failing to do its job”.
“I understand a man has absconded from Langi Kal Kal prison farm,” Mr Foley said.
“I would urge any Victorians who see or suspect they see him to contact police. Do not approach him.
“I think what this shows is that services need to do their job. I would express my disappointment that Langi Kal Kal failed to do its job.”
Police did not believe Dettman had access to a phone or cash at the time of his escape. He is known to have associates in Bendigo, Werribee and Melbourne.
Dettman is described as 178cm tall with a thin build, short grey hair and blue eyes.
He has a number of tattoos on his arms, including an eagle on his right upper arm.
The prisoner was last seen wearing green tracksuit pants and a flannelette shirt.
It is understood Dettman only had one month of his sentence left to serve.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 000 immediately.