Convicted paedophile back behind bars

A convicted paedophile who was hounded out of South Taranaki is now back in prison.

Phillip Cooper was removed from his sister's home in the small town of Patea after 100 angry locals marched on the address last Sunday.

Protesters waved placards, threw stones at the house and one girl wore a noose around her neck.

A Corrections Department spokesperson told the Taranaki Daily News that Cooper was removed because of concerns for his safety.

The Parole Board had made an interim recall order on Cooper and a hearing on whether to make a final order would be held within a month.

Cooper must be released from prison by August 12.

The 54-year-old was jailed in 2001 for 18 sexual offences on five boys aged between eight and 12.

Cooper's sister, Angela McGregor, said she was trying to be a "supportive sister" to her brother when he came out of jail.

She was not told of any risks of letting Cooper stay with her, and felt the system had let her down.

Cooper's brother, John Cooper, said no one in the family wanted "that bastard back here. We dismissed him from our lives years ago".

- NZPA