Notorious criminal Dean Wickliffe recalled to prison again

STUFF

Dean Wickliffe shortly after he published his book, Life Behind Bars.

Drink driving has seen one of New Zealand's most notorious criminals recalled to prison for being an "undue risk" to the community. 

It is the sixth time convicted killer Dean Wickliffe has been recalled to prison to continue serving his life sentence for a manslaughter of  Wellington jeweller Paul Miet during an armed robbery in 1972

Wickliffe has spent 41 years of his life behind bars netting more than 50-or-so convictions in his lifetime for offences including manslaughter, aggravated robbery, escaping, kidnapping, driving with excess breath alcohol and possessing methamphetamine for supply.

In April he pleaded to guilty at the Tauranga District Court to drink driving charges and breaching his prison release conditions.

The conviction meant he had to face a Parole Board hearing for his possible recall. 

Used in evidence at his hearing were excerpts from his book, Life Behind Bars, where he shared insight into his offending history.

Through his lawyer Wickliffe asked for greater freedoms from the parole board. But the argument fell on deaf ears. 

"In our opinion risk to the community's safety is undue," the parole board said in recalling him back to prison.

"It is one thing for Wickliffe to be breaching the condition relating to the consumption of alcohol. It is entirely another matter in terms of risk to community safety for him to be putting innocent lives in jeopardy by driving under the influence.

"We will be scheduling Mr Wickliffe to be seen for the further consideration of parole in August."