Killer recalled to prison after 13 red-light visits

The killer of Timaru hitch-hiker Lisa Blakie is back behind bars after visiting sex workers in Christchurch’s Manchester St 13 times while he was supposed to be at work.

Timothy David Taylor was jailed for murdering Blakie after she caught a ride with him on February 2, 2000, while hitchhiking from Christchurch to the West Coast.

The 20-year-old’s bruised body was found four days later under a boulder in a stream near Porters Pass on State Highway 73.

Taylor – who had an extensive criminal record including rape, supplying drugs and kidnapping – was convicted after the Crown argued Blakie, who had worked in the sex industry, was killed in an attack motivated by robbery and sex.

Last April, Taylor was freed on parole to live in Christchurch under strict conditions.

However, by December – just seven months later – the Department of Corrections applied for Taylor to be recalled to prison because of his ‘‘undue risk to community safety and breach of release conditions’’.

An interim recall order was granted. Taylor appeared before the Parole Board yesterday for a final recall hearing.

Taylor’s probation officer said that on the first weekend Taylor had been approved to travel by himself, he deviated from his approved destination.

‘‘Deviations occurred on 13 occasions with the assumed purpose of seeking the services of a prostitute,’’ the report said.

Ten of those visits were caught on security cameras.

The report noted Taylor had been particularly keen on one prostitute.

‘‘He admitted attending the location regularly seeking this person. He would take the prostitute to another location nearby to fulfil his physical sexual needs.’’

The probation officer was concerned that Taylor’s history of violence and sexual offending meant there was ‘‘undue’’ risk from his visits to the city’s redlight district.

Previously identified risk factors for further sexual offending included sexual preoccupation and poor problem-solving skills.

The probation officer added that despite GPS monitoring and an intensive reintegration programme, Taylor ‘‘quickly engaged in risky behaviour’’ when the opportunity arose.

The Parole Board concluded there was no doubt Taylor was an undue risk to community safety and made a final recall order. The board called for a psychological assessment of Taylor.