Crim continues to evade police after escaping from prion in December

POLICE want to speak to escaped Alice Springs convict, Jermaine Austral, in relation to a violent carjacking at Aileron last week

Northern Territory Police are calling for public assistance to locate 20-year-old Jermaine Austral

POLICE want to speak to escaped Alice Springs convict, Jermaine Austral, in relation to a violent carjacking at Aileron last week.

Austral, 20, escaped from custody with another 20-year-old prisoner, who has since been rearrested, on December 23, last year.

A week later on December 30, it was reported that three offenders had threatened tourists with a knife before assaulting one of them and stealing a silver Holden Rodeo utility, Queensland registration 647 VPV, on the Stuart Hwy, 120km north of Alice Springs.

Police said they were eager to question Austral over the incident. Detective Superintendent Michael White said Austral had allegedly been involved in criminal activity since he escaped prison.

“His last known sighting was (Monday) on Lovegrove Dr in Alice Springs,” he said.

“We urge members of the public, family members or friends who may know the whereabouts of Mr Austral to contact police immediately.

“He is described as being of indigenous appearance with slim build and about 160cm tall. Members of the public should not approach Mr Austral, but instead contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

A source from Alice Springs prison said Austral was being held as a low security prisoner when he escaped.

“He’s considered low security but escapes and has allegedly held up a tourist with a knife to steal their car,” he said.

“It’s the same old problem, a flawed classification manual means prisoners who shouldn't be considered low security are.

“We (correctional officers) expect this problem of constant escapes to continue until the whole classification manual is overhauled.”

At the start of December another prisoner in Alice Springs escaped while on work release duties.

In June, a 22-year-old male escaped from the Low Security Cottages at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.

It has previously been suggested by guards that as low security prisoners are cheaper to house, more prisoners in low security means significant cost savings for the Department of Corrections.

The department has rejected this assertion.