Fugitive Victorian sex offender arrested by police after escaping from prison

Police have arrested a convicted sex offender who escaped from a Victorian prison yesterday.

Barry Dettman, 51, was arrested by police about 5pm today in Werribee, near his mother’s home.

He was spotted by a member of the public, and allegedly used a false name when questioned by police.

Dettman remains in custody.

His mother, who cannot be identified, earlier said Dettman had “dropped in” to her Werribee home about 5pm yesterday.

“He did drop in, because while I was out he came for a couple of things I had on the back porch. That’s it,” she told 9NEWS.

She said Dettman, who suffers schizophrenia, wasn’t dangerous and expressed concern for threats against her son on social media.

“I worry about him. All the threats and comments that have been going on Facebook,” she said.

“He’s definitely not dangerous, he’s more of a wuss than anything.”

Dettman is serving time for offences including indecent acts in the presence of a child and wilful and obscene exposure.

It is believed he had just one month left to serve of his sentence before he was released.