‘Wear something tight and black’: Alleged victim’s texts to Block star before escort date turned sour
Texts between former Block star Suzi Taylor and the escort client she and another man are accused of extorting have been revealed in court.
A man allegedly extorted by former Block star Suzi Taylor and her co-accused during an escort date gone wrong in Brisbane asked her to wear “something tight and black with stockings and (sic) high heals”, a court has been told.
Lutwyche man David John Butler sent the texts before meeting the woman, whom he knew as “Katie”, at her New Farm apartment early on October 30, 2019.
But it’s alleged the date turned sour, leading to Ms Taylor and another man, Ali Ebrahimi, attacking the man, holding him against his will and taking hundreds of dollars from him.
On Thursday Ms Taylor, real name Suellen Jan Taylor, and Mr Ebrahimi both pleaded not guilty to one count each of extortion, deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm, fraud and attempted fraud.
The crown alleges Mr Butler was tied up and assaulted by the pair after a dispute about paying Ms Taylor for an escort date.
He was allegedly kept there for hours while Mr Ebrahimi used Mr Butler’s bank card to take $950 from his account.
Another $250 in Mr Butler’s wallet was allegedly missing when he was eventually released.
Crown prosecutor Ben Jackson said Ms Taylor and Mr Ebrahimi were texting during the meet-up, discussing how to get money from Mr Butler.
Mr Butler told the court he used the escort service Scarlet Blue and began chatting with Ms Taylor, who was using the name “Katie”.
He said he believed he would be paying $250 for half an hour of the service.
In texts with Ms Taylor, he asked her to wear “something tight and black with stockings and high heals (sic)”.
Mr Butler told the court Ms Taylor was on her phone most of the time while there and she appeared quite drunk.
When they went to the bedroom, he said Ms Taylor removed his shirt and took her top off, before demanding he pay up.
After a dispute broke out, Mr Ebrahimi is alleged to have grabbed Mr Butler, dragged him to the kitchen and tied him up with a phone cable before he and Ms Taylor allegedly began punching and kicking him.
Photos of marks on Mr Butler’s wrists, taken during a doctor’s appointment, were tendered to the court.
Despite insisting he was broke, Mr Butler said Mr Ebrahimi went through his pockets and took out his wallet and phone.
“He was punching me and kicking me … she (Taylor) kicked and punched me,” he said.
“Katie (Ms Taylor) was in the lounge room.
“She was taking photos of my licence and cards, laying them out on the bench.”
Mr Butler said he attempted to escape while tied up but was restrained by Mr Ebrahimi, who began kicking and punching him again.
He alleged he was restrained for so long and feeling so overwhelmed with fear he soiled his pants.
Mr Butler said Mr Ebrahimi refused to let him go to the toilet.
After Mr Ebrahimi returned from allegedly using his bank card, he allegedly threatened Mr Butler not to go to police, saying he would be “dead”.
Ms Taylor’s defence barrister, James Benjamin, questioned Mr Butler about how much he had been drinking and whether he had described using the dating app Tinder prior that night.
Mr Benjamin asked why there were alleged inconsistencies in his evidence compared to what he had said during the committal hearing last year.
He suggested Mr Butler’s account of the night was “not terribly reliable”.
The trial continues.
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