A man who has a 35-year-long criminal career but turned to art in a bid to get his life ontrack outside jail is again wanted by police in Northland.
Simon Kerr, 56, has warrants out for his arrest for breaching parole conditions. Northland police posted on their facebook page todayurging anyone who may know where Kerr is to contact them.
Along with a photo of Kerr, police described him as European, 190cm or medium build and he has a tattoo of a bat on each side of his neck.
Kerr had links to the Far North District but also had connections across the North Island.
Kerr was a professional safe cracker with and was involved with number of successful prison breaks in his 35 year criminal career.
But it was while inside at Ngawha in Northland that he found art and began painting. He has had number of exhibitions in Wellington and some of his works are on display in a Rawene gallery.
His works have been described as "striking - handwriting and colourful scrawls, like the love-child of Banksy and Colin McCahon".
Kerr has previously made headlines for his part in the infamous "Hole in the Wall Gang" of bankrobbers, an escape which led him to stow away on a cargo ship to Australia and a 13-day rooftop protest, about remand conditions, atop Mt Eden jail.
Peter Williams, QC, addresses a meeting at Mt Eden Prison in 1994, with protesters Simon Kerr & Shane Thorn in the background.
Anyone with information should call 111 or contact Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson at Kerikeri Police on 09 4079211 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
