Freed singer 'accepts effect of offending'

William Winitana was released from prison after accepting his offending. Photo / File

Convicted sex criminal and prominent Hawke's Bay opera singer William Winitana "completely accepts his offending" and the pain inflicted upon his victim after spending 18 months in jail.

Winitana was jailed in June 2013 for three years and one month after a jury at the Napier District Court found him guilty of sexual violation.

At his trial the court heard that several years ago Winitana invited a boy, then 17, to his house to take part in a photo shoot.

Winitana rubbed the teen in oil and asked him to pose in various stages of undress.

Winitana's sentence was due to run to July 23, 2016 but he was released last November 18.

"We had a long discussion with Mr Winitana and part of what came through was the fact that he now, as the psychologist mentioned, completely accepts his offending and the effect that it had on the victim," said a parole hearing report before Judge Michael Behrens QC, Douglas Hauraki and Shannon Pakura.

"He was at somewhat of a loss to describe a reason for defending the charge but it seems that he was just not seeing what in fact had happened for reasons that are probably quite deep."

But at Winitana's sentencing Judge Raoul Neave said the drama teacher still showed a lack of understanding or remorse and "anticipated some enjoyment" from inviting the teen home.

"You proceeded without giving thought to whether or not the complainant was consenting or not ... You pounced on this young man in a very compromising and vulnerable situation," he said.

In 2012, about five years after the offending, the victim came forward but the effects on the teenager left him "mortified" at having to relive the incident through a trial, the judge said.

"He still doesn't like having his photo taken or being in videos ... He is yet to tell all of his family what has happened and may never be able to do so."

Winitana also appeared before the Parole Board last July, but it was not prepared to release him because he had not done enough to satisfy it that he "adequately understood high-risk situations".

The board said he needed to be more specific about his job plans and to formulate a strong release and relapse prevention plan.

Before his November release, Winitana produced an "impressive" relapse prevention plan, while the psychological report last May said he was at low risk of re-offending.

"In the circumstances we have come to the conclusion that Mr Winitana is not an undue risk and he should be released," the Parole Board said.

He was instructed to undertake and complete appropriate counselling and not to have contact with the victim.

Winitana performed at the Waiata Maori Music Awards and tutored classes at the National Youth Drama School, while also teaching musical theatre at the National Youth Drama School.

He featured in the Flaxmere Heroes calendar in 2010 and performed at several local events including a fundraiser concert for Christchurch quake victims.