Gangster who ran meth ring behind bars declined parole

A prisoner who ran a methamphetamine ring from prison, using his mother – a justice of the peace – as a financier, is closing in on his 20th year behind bars.

But he is finally making significant progress and could be released in May.

Brian Paul Taylor, pictured, has been an inmate since 2003, when he was sentenced to two years and three months’ jail for relatively minor offending. His sentence has since bloated out for crimes including a violent spree involving shooting a man in a leg, breaking into a Mongrel Mob member’s home, beating them and stealing their patch.

He also took part in the 2003 revenge shooting of thenacting Mob president Sovite Su’a over the death of teenage Black Power affiliate Wallace Whatuira.

His latest offending occurred in 2016 when he, despite being an inmate at Manawatu¯ Prison, ran a methamphetamine ring.

Taylor’s mother, Marlene, provided finance, and was stripped of her justice of the peace title after becoming what some dubbed‘justice of the P’.

Taylor was considered for parole last month but was declined. The Parole Board said recent changes he had made needed time to bed in and he will be considered in May. His sentence is due to end in 2023.