Beast of Blenheim fails in parole bid

Stewart Murray Wilson, the sex offender known as the Beast of Blenheim, has again been refused release from prison on parole.

The Parole Board today released its decision following a hearing held last month, and despite acknowledging paperwork was late in getting to Wilson before the hearing, the board ruled that was not prejudicial or unfair to him.

The safety of the community was paramount in its decision, said panel convener Judge John Macdonald.

Wilson was convicted in 1996 for sex offending involving women and girls over a period of 25 years.

The charges included rape, bestiality, stupefying, ill-treatment of children and indecent assault. He was sentenced to 21 years' jail.

Wilson, 63, has spent 15 years in prison. He has served two thirds of his sentence and could have been released in December 2008. However, after a request from the Corrections Department to the Parole Board, he will not be released until September 1, 2012.

He was refused parole in December 2008, and again in June last year. He has also lost a number of High Court and Court of Appeal bids for early release.

According to the Parole Board's latest report, a psychologist's opinion was that Wilson remained at high risk of committing further sexual offences.

Wilson had made no attempt to reduce his risk through treatment and had no structured release proposal in place, Judge Macdonald said.

He relied on his good behaviour in prison as evidence of a reduction in risk but good behaviour on its own did not reduce his risk.

Wilson was willing to undertake the STOP sexual abuse programme on his release but the board said it suspected that because he maintained his innocence, he was unlikely to be assessed as suitable for the programme.

- NZPA