Beast of Blenheim dead

A serial sex offender dubbed the Beast of Blenheim, has died.

Notorious Stewart Murray Wilson died of natural causes at the age of 72 years old it has been revealed today.

One of New Zealand’s worst sex offenders, Wilson was jailed for 21 years in 1996.

Corrections operations director for the lower north region, Coralea Easther, says that Wilson died at Whanganui Hospital on Monday morning.

Early indications showed he had died from natural causes, she says.

"It appears he died of natural causes.

"Next of kin has been notified, and registered victims are being advised."

Wilson’s crimes shocked the country, with at least 42 victims, both girls and women, enduring drugging, rape and assault.

He was jailed again in 2018 after being found guilty of raping a woman, a then 9-year-old girl, and of attempting to rape a third woman during the 1970s and early 1980s.

He was sentenced to a further two years and four months' jail for historic offences against three victims.

He was most recently released from prison in August 2019 to live in his cottage on the grounds of Whanganui Prison.

Police had reinvestigated the sex offender in 2016, which led to the new charges.