Convicted armed robber and prison escapee Kevin Polwart has had nine months added to his sentence.

The 49-year-old spent 50 days on the run after cutting his way out of Auckland Prison just before Christmas. He is serving time for robbing a security van in 1999.

His sentence was extended in 2001 when he spent 41 days at large, after busting out of Rimutaka Prison. During that time Polwart robbed a second security van.

Polwart was sentenced at the North Shore District Court this morning, having earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of escaping from custody.

He now will not be eligible for parole until the end of next year.