Infamous inmate recalled to jail
Arthur Taylor was paroled in 2019 but is back behind bars, writes Kelly Dennett.
Career criminal and jailhouse lawyer Arthur Taylor has been recalled to prison.
It is understood he was recalled to Rimutaka Prison where he will be held for 28 days.
Taylor, 63, had recently been evicted from his Wellington accommodation by Corrections, prompting him to mount a legal challenge.
At an earlier court hearing in Wellington, a lawyer for Corrections had said it was paying for Taylor’s interim accommodation but that he was not engaging with the hunt to find an alternative place to live.
Taylor was being housed in hotels for weeks, first in Porirua, before moving to the central city. This week he had written to Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni, and his local MP Kris Faafoi, seeking their help to resolve the situation.
On Friday he wrote to officials asking to be urgently moved from his accommodation on Manners
St in central Wellington, saying the motel wasn’t safe.
‘‘I have to say that your Department’s response to my concerns has been nothing short of appalling,’’ Taylor wrote to Sepuloni.
On Thursday he wrote to Faafoi saying he wanted to be moved urgently.
‘‘Unfortunately (the accommodation) has a lot of active criminals and drug/users dealers on the premises,’’ he wrote. ‘‘It is so bad that there have to be two security guards stationed at all times as you get out of the lifts.
‘‘I’ve alerted (the social development ministry) and my Probation Officer to the situation but they don’t appear to be in a hurry to rehouse me. I need the active advocacy of my MP.
‘‘I understand that Kris is busy, but he has met me in prison before and he knows that I need to be housed away from active criminals and drug users/dealers for my safety and to avoid them constantly approaching me to assist with their obtaining drug supplies.’’
Faafoi’s office told Taylor they couldn’t interfere, instead telling him to resolve the situation with his probation officer.
Taylor has more than 150 convictions and spent 39 cumulative years behind bars for various offences ranging from burglary and car theft to kidnapping and several escapes from custody including a particularly audacious escape from Auckland Prison at Paremoremo in 2008.
But he launched his own legal business from behind bars, and took several high-profile cases against Corrections and the Crown. He also successfully prosecuted a jailhouse witness for perjury, not long before he was paroled in 2019.
Under his parole conditions he could be recalled to serve the remainder of his 17-year, sixmonth sentence. His sentence is due to expire in 2022.
His sister confirmed his recall. In a statement, Corrections said it had applied to the Parole Board for Taylor to be recalled to prison on Friday on the grounds that he posed an undue risk to the safety of the community.
An interim recall was granted by the Parole Board and Taylor was in custody.
The board would determine whether a final recall is granted.
‘‘As this matter is now before the New Zealand Parole Board, we are not able to comment further.’’
‘‘I have to say that your Department’s response to my concerns has been nothing short of appalling.’’ Taylor’s letter to Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni