Sex offender who fled from Ararat correctional centre arrested after 12 hours on the run

A sex offender who allegedly cut off his ankle tracking bracelet and fled from a rehabilitation centre in regional Victoria has been arrested.

Theo Briggs fled from the village-style complex on Corella Place in Ararat, known as the Village of the Damned, early this morning.

The 24-year-old was arrested more than 40km away in Beaufort at around 12.30pm today after a tip-off from the public, just half an hour after police held a media conference urging him to hand himself in.

Corella Place is a supervised residential facility for serious sex offenders who have completed jail sentences, but are subject to court-ordered treatment and supervision.

Briggs is the seventh person since 2010 to escape from Corella Place while serving a supervision order.

"Electronic monitoring includes alerts that are generated if the devices are tampered with in any way, which authorities respond to immediately," Corrections Victoria said in a statement.

Briggs is expected to be charged with breaching conditions of a supervision order and other offences.

He has been remanded in custody and will face the Ballarat Magistrates Court tomorrow, where he is expected to be further remanded to appear before a County Court judge.

The maximum penalty for breaching a supervision order is up to five years in jail.