A police officer has been injured in an attack by a prisoner who charged at him while escaping the Whanganui District Court cells.
The 21-year-old man broke out into the cell block after damaging a cell door yesterday afternoon.
Police said he then rushed at a constable and assaulted him.
Officers caught the prisoner a short distance from the court and arrested him.
The injured constable was recovering at home and was expected to be back at work within a few days.