Child sex offender relocated

The man has spent most of his life behind bars. Photo / File

A sex offender - whose presence in a West Coast town sparked outrage - has been relocated.

Westport News revealed last Wednesday the man, whose 20-page rap sheet features over 500 convictions including the rape of a seven-year-old girl, was living next door to a family with children, less than three blocks from a pre-school facility and less than 700 metres from a local primary school.

Buller Mayor Garry Howard today confirmed the Corrections Department had moved the man out of Westport - and he understood out of Buller - last Thursday.

Mr Howard revealed he had received complaints from members of the public the week before last about the man living in Westport and had contacted Corrections seeking a review of his placement.

He was impressed by the department's "prompt and appropriate" response.

The mayor said he was reluctant to make any public comment on the case, although he believed the community was entitled to know the man had gone.

He said Corrections had a tough job and he did not want to inhibit its work. He also believed offenders deserved a second chance.

"It's very hard with the 'not in my backyard syndrome' ? It is extremely difficult for Corrections Department with the legislation and rules that they live under and the justice system as it is?

"It's very, very difficult when people have got a long string of offences and you say 'how many chances do you give people?' If a person was living right next to me and I had children, how would I feel?"

He admitted he would feel "extremely anxious".

Mr Howard said some locals were concerned Westport lacked the support services to provide adequate care and protection to the public and serious offenders relocated here.

Corrections usually informed him when a serious offender was moved into Buller, but had not told him when the man was relocated here after being released from prison last year.