IT DIDN'T seem a big deal when I wrote a few paragraphs on runaway alleged sex offender Dion Hayes back in August.

It is the kind of story that crosses a reporter's desk daily without going any further.

READ: Amateur sleuth tracks fugitive sex pest

But an unwitting mistake by Hayes meant I was able to spend the next three months tracking his movements across the continent and back.

In his hurry to leave the state, he sold his computer for a discount price of $1500 cash - but forgot to disable the linked Apple iCloud memory.

Bargain hunter Darren got the shock of his life when pictures taken by a wanted man began automatically appearing on the machine, giving away the fugitive's whereabouts.

media_camera Amateur sleuth Darren helped in the arrest of a Dion Hayes who was on the run over sex related charges. Picture: Ian Currie

Darren contacted police and begged them to take the computer away, but they seemed reluctant.

When he felt he was doing more work to locate Hayes than the police, he turned to the Herald Sun, getting in touch with the reporter who had written the short story about him.

Darren continued to update police on Hayes's whereabouts, but Hayes always seemed to be one step ahead.

It was as though we were looking over his shoulder as Hayes camped in desert scrub near the Oodnadatta Track, and by remote lakes out the back of beyond.

media_camera A photo Dion Hayes took that was automatically uploaded to his old computer.

The whole thing was more Bear Grylls than Richard Kimble as Hayes, clearly a bit of an outdoorsman, used his bushman techniques to keep a low profile all the way to Western Australia.

But on Monday night, en route back to Melbourne, he gave a trusted family member his exact location - for the first time.

The update indicated he would be there for hours.

His Ford Transit van had run out of fuel on the Western Highway and the family member was en route to provide some roadside assistance.

But police arrived just as Hayes's son was emptying the jerry can into the van to complete the last leg of Hayes's travels around Australia.

READ: Amateur sleuth tracks fugitive sex pest

jon.kaila@news.com.au