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Disgraced morals campaigner Graham Capill has been sharing his views on the scriptures with fellow inmates at Christchurch Prison.
The former Christian Heritage Party leader, who spent more than a decade decrying paedophiles and the "immoral" behaviour of homosexuals, was jailed in 2005 for nine years on charges relating to the sexual violation of three young girls between 1990 and 2002. One victim was just eight when Capill began abusing her.
He appears before the Parole Board this month but there seems little chance that he will be allowed back into the community so soon.
Capill's lawyer, Jonathan Eaton, confirmed yesterday that he was involved in the parole bid but would not comment further.
Before being sentenced, Capill emailed friends arguing that sex with one victim was "consensual" and he hoped to be released a third of the way into his sentence.
But supporter and Richmond New Life Church elder Chris Baigent told the Herald on Sunday that was no longer Capill's view.
Baigent said that Capill was still awaiting placement on a Corrections-run programme for convicted child-sex offenders, and there was little chance of parole until he had completed it. "He is looking forward to freedom but is probably a bit surprised he is being considered for parole right now," Baigent said. "He knows there's not much chance of it."
In the meantime, Capill was "taking great strength from the Bible" and was even sharing his thoughts on the scriptures with fellow inmates.
"He is not overtly prophesising but upon request has been more than happy to help other prisoners in a quiet, low-key way," Baigent said.
"He is spending a lot of time reading the Bible and has been doing a lot of in-depth study which is good to see."
Capill had also completed a horticulture course through Massey University and until recently was involved in gardening projects around the prison.
He was struggling with the isolation and loneliness of prison and at times got very down about the number of years he still had to serve, Baigent said. But that said, Capill had accepted his offending and was making no excuses for his behaviour.
There had been some talk his offending could be categorised as "adultery" but that was more people twisting the situation rather than any view Capill held himself, Baigent said.
"He knows he has done the crime and now he needs to do the time..."
Baigent said Capill's victims had suffered "permanent damage" that would follow them throughout their lives.
He did not comment on Capill's wife's decision to stick by him but said she was an "amazing lady".
Capill kept in regular touch with his wife and she and some of his children were regular visitors to the prison.
"She is standing alongside him all the way. She has kept the family going and he will be welcome back into the marriage relationship when he gets out," he said.
"The younger children miss him terribly. They are really neat kids - you couldn't wish for a better family of kids."
Baigent said that two of Capill's older children had got married while he was in prison, which had been "really tough" for the former Christian leader who wasn't able to attend the weddings.
For now, it was a case of looking ahead to the future, Baigent said.
"Hopefully there can be rehabilitation of Graham in years to come and this family can move on with their lives."
Corrections declined to say whether Capill had undertaken any type of counselling or specific courses for convicted sex offenders.
