Maintenance worker Sterling Williams is accused of helping 10 inmates escape from a New Orleans jail by turning off water to the cell from which they fled.

Police have arrested a maintenance worker at the New Orleans jail for helping ten inmates break out of the US facility last week, Louisiana's attorney general has announced.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson stated during a news conference Friday that the men were able to escape due to "defective locks," which she has continuously raised concerns about.