A convicted thief who escaped from the Prison Farm over the weekend was back in his cell last night having given himself up voluntarily after a two-day manhunt.

During a routine roll-call at the farm on Sunday, it was discovered that two inmates were unaccounted for ? prompting the launch of an Island-wide search for the duo in a joint effort between Police and Corrections Officers. One man returned, butSaje Nearon, 26, remained at large until 7 p.m last night.

Prisons Commissioner Hubert Dean revealed that Nearon was being returned to the Prison Farm by his pastor, when they saw the Chief of the Prison Farm, Lionel Young in the area of the Swizzle Inn in Hamilton Parish. Nearon reportedly agreed to return to the farm in the car of Mr. Young. ?The inmate will now be returned to Westgate where he will be questioned by the Treatment of Offenders Board,? Mr. Dean. ?We are not entirely sure how he escaped but he must have somehow breached the perimeter fencing and we will be investigating that further.?

Nearon will be punished for his actions internally, Mr. Dean concluded.

Meanwhile, the whole affair was marred by critical comments from the public over the Police?s allegedly ponderous response to tip-offs.

At around 3 p.m yesterday, Police were told of a sighting of Nearon in the Glebe Road/Friswells Road Area in Pembroke ? although when they arrived he was able to outrun them and escape once more.

Speaking to , a Roberts Avenue resident said he had spotted Nearon he phoned Police to report the siting at 2.10 p.m and at 2.45 p.m ? yet Police did not arrive for over an hour.

?We?re told by (Home Affairs Minister) Randy Horton to work with the Police and help them out,? he said. ?But when I did so and called them they didn?t show up. It?s absolutely unbelievable. What were they doing? Why did it take them so long to respond? We try and help them but it doesn?t seem to make a difference.?

When asked for a response, Police would not comment on the accusations.