Prison van escapee pleads guilty

A violent criminal who sparked a major manhunt in Adelaide last week, after he made a dash for freedom, has pleaded guilty to escaping custody.

Shane Gauci managed to slip past guards when the prison van he was being transported in stopped at an On the Run service station at Newton last Monday.

The escape sparked a major manhunt, with the 41-year-old eventually re-captured at Gawler West more than 38 hours later.

Gauci - who was most recently serving time for robbing a pensioner - appeared via video link to the Adelaide Magistrates Court. He sat with his arms crossed as he entered the guilty plea.

He will be sentenced next month.