VIC: Rapist on the run after escaping prison van

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2007
VIC: Rapist on the run after escaping prison van

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - Police say one of the prisoners still at large after breaking
out of a prison van in Melbourne's west this morning has a prior conviction for rape.

They said Troy Lowe, 26, from Melbourne's western suburbs had a history of serious
violent crime, including a rape conviction in 1999.

Police named the other escapee as Gregory Caulfield, 30, of Bendigo.

The pair and another prisoner escaped after kicking open the back door of the prison
van at North Altona this morning.

They were being transferred from the Melbourne Assessment Prison, where they were being
held on minor theft and burglary charges, to Port Phillip Prison.

One of the men still at large was on remand and the other had been jailed for theft.

A passing motorist alerted the prison van's driver that the back door was open as the
van was travelling along the Western Ring Road at Altona North, shortly before 11am (AEDT)
today.

The third escapee was arrested about five kilometres away at Footscray cemetery within
an hour and a half of the escape.

AAP sjm/pmu/jl/de

KEYWORD: PRISONERS NAMES

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