A PRISONER who escaped from the back of a police van has been re-arrested.

Michael Tutt was detained in Banbury, Oxfordshire, by officers from Test Valley police yesterday, after 11 days on the run.

The 24-year-old, from Spring Vale, Swanmore, was being transported from Winchester Prison on December 7 when he managed to give officers the slip.

It was the second time he had escaped from custody in three years, having previously sparked a nationwide manhunt in October 2004.

After he was arrested that time he was charged with more than 30 burglaries, mostly in Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford, and was later jailed for three years.

Last Monday, Tutt was due to appear before Southampton Crown Court on a charge of burglary, but the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest after reading about his disappearance in the Daily Echo.