The hunt is on for a dangerous young offender who escaped from Malmsbury on crutches on Tuesday.

Lachlan Mitchell, 20, is alleged to have fled from the facility and jumped into an awaiting black Holden ute, which sped off in a westerly direction.

He is serving a 12 month sentence, imposed on him in March, for serious driving and firearm offences.

‘We believe he’s probably headed to the Warrnambool area,’ Detective Leading Senior Constable Wade Andrews told Neil Mitchell.

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