He escaped

Update (the same day, just 4hrs later): As I wrote this blog post this morning, Josh was being captured in Worrigee - not far from the prison. Good work LAC!!


Its not too often that the average person out there knows someone personally who has escaped from jail and is a fugitive on the run. But I'm that person. Joshua Leigh Duke escaped from the South Coast Correctional Facility on Saturday 8th June at around 2pm. Reports say that he has jumped over a wall, got in a car and driven off. So much for being an unescapable prison. 

When they first built the prison and the month prior to sending inmates, they opened it up to the public. Bus loads of people went through all the areas of prison, from maximum to minimum, males to female sections, seclusion, security areas - you name it, we got to see it. The majority of Nowra residents went through - publicity push or not, it was well worth the couple of hours. Seeing the walls I really wonder how it was possible for him to scale a fence and get over. Another report said that Josh was doing work in the minimum security area (why on earth he was in minimum security in the first place is beyond my comprehension and yet to be answered) and has escaped from there. He was found to be missing at 2pm and was reported  missing the the Shoalhaven LAC at 2.20pm. 

He is yet to be found.

The following information has come from various Shoalhaven newspapers:

In January he was finally arrested for holding up service stations at Albion Park, Tomerong and Batemans Bay between 2am on January 15 and 12.30am on January 16.

He faced a total of 54 charges and is considered to be highly dangerous.

Police warn he should not be approached.

With the assistance of Polair and the Dog Unit areas of Nowra were searched to no avail.

Police describe Duke as having a Caucasian appearance, 175cm tall with a medium build and a shaved head. At the time of his escape he was wearing green shorts, green T-shirt and green shoes. 

A possible sighting in Mittagong turned out to be someone else and at the time of going to press, Duke was still a wanted man.

Anyone who sees him or knows of his current whereabouts is urged to contact triple-0 immediately.

 

A part of me says he's not dangerous, but he is. A part of me feels sorry for him but he does not deserve sympathy. A part of me knows why and how he has come to this but he is an adult and MUST take full responsibility. Throw the book at him, throw the key away and keep him in seclusion for the rest of his rotten life!