Escapee found under mattress

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A PRISONER who escaped from a courthouse in northern NSW has been found hiding under a mattress.

Cleveland Madden, 22, an inmate of the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, was at Kempsey Local Court on Monday afternoon but escaped while he was being returned to a prison van.

Police found him just after midday (AEDT) on Wednesday in Taree, hiding under a mattress in a bedroom of a house in Pindari Crescent.

Madden was taken to Taree police station, where he was expected to be charged with escaping lawful custody.

Police have thanked the public for their help in finding him.