Dome Valley kidnap case: Michelle Blom released on parole

Michelle Blom (left), who has been paroled and Nicola Jones, who is serving a 13-year sentence.

A woman who helped kidnap a teenager who was later brutally assaulted, sexually violated and left for dead in Auckland's Dome Valley has been paroled nearly a year after being sentenced.

Michelle Blom was part of a group of six who were jailed for their roles in two separate attacks on the then 19-year-old victim. In the first the complainant was tasered, had her hair cut off and was dropped off at the Bombays and warned not to return to Auckland.

Weeks later, in May 2016, the woman was again targeted by group ringleaders - childhood friend Nicola Jones and Julie-Ann Torrance.

The woman, who can't be identified, was bundled into a car by Torrance, Jones, Blom and Jaclyn Keates and taken to Blom's West Auckland flat.

In the basement she was stripped, bound and held for nearly a day. She was assaulted with weapons, had her fingers broken, was sexually violated and then taken to Dome Valley by Blackett, Torrance and Jones where she was beaten around the head with a hammer and left for dead.

Blom was found guilty of kidnapping at a High Court at Auckland jury trial and jailed for two years and nine months in April last year. At the time Justice Christian Whata said it was one of the most serious cases he'd come across, and although she hadn't been party to the assaults he highlighted Blom's failure to intervene.

In a just-released decision a Parole Board report shows it granted Blom parole in January after hearing she had completed a drug treatment programme and "worked very hard" during it.

She had been accepted into a live-in rehabilitation programme outside the wire, and was granted parole to attend it.

"In particular Ms Blom outlined the change in her mindset from one who invariably went along with others, to a person who will take the initiative and challenge herself," the report says.

"She was able to provide examples where she had taken an initiative in the prison environment. She has also substituted good communication skills for aggression."

Blom was released on February 12, a year ahead of her statutory release date, and subject to standard and special conditions including continuing her rehabilitation, not to possess or consume drugs, undergo regular drug testing, and not to communicate with the victim.

Blom is the first of the offending group to leave prison after being jailed.

Jones, Torrance and Blackett were jailed for 13 years, 16 years and 12 years respectively for charges Including attempted murder. The motive for the attack was Jones' belief the complainant had an affair with her boyfriend.

Blom declined to comment through her lawyer Julie-Anne Kincade.