Outrage at release of prominent child rapist

The early release of child sex criminal Peter Stewart has outraged rape crisis workers who say it is a signal to others that they can continue to attack children.

Stewart, 63, is due to be released from prison after serving only a third of his sentence for rape, sodomy and indecent assault.

He was jailed in February 2008 for three and a half years.

His offending took place from 1968 to 1974 when Stewart was in his 20s.

Before his conviction Stewart was a prominent Canterbury businessman and is the husband of New Zealand Fashion Week owner Pieter Stewart.

She has been a staunch supporter of her husband but refused to comment about his release when spoken to by the Herald yesterday.

Rape Prevention Education spokeswoman Dr Kim McGregor said the "paltry sanction" sends a "clear signal" to child offenders that they could "pretty much continue to sexually offend against our children without very much in the way of interruption and penalty".

Dr McGregor said very few cases of child sexual abuse cases were reported to police. One study estimated that possibly only 1 per cent of sex offenders ever get convicted.

"Peter Stewart was one of the few child sex offenders to be convicted. He spent just over a year in jail for the rape, sodomy and indecent assault of a young girl," she said.

"Perhaps this sentence also signals that we have one justice system for the rich and famous who can afford the best legal defence that money can buy and another for the poor and unknown offenders who cannot afford such a powerful defence."

Dr McGregor said that before they were convicted, Stewart and fellow child sex offenders Graham Capill and Peter Liddell were regarded as "nice men" in their communities.

"It is precisely because the majority of child sex offenders are 'nice men' that we trust them and allow them access to our children. If they were obvious monsters there is no way we would allow them anywhere near our children."

She said it was bad enough that Stewart was being released after just over a year in jail but she was more concerned at Stewart's lack of remorse and lack of treatment.

"For child sex offenders who successfully complete 1-2 years of specialist treatment the recidivism rate may be as little as 5 per cent. per cent For those offenders who have no treatment at all their risk of reoffending is elevated."

The Herald understands at least four psychiatric reports were prepared on Stewart and all said there was no risk of his reoffending.

The Parole Board decision to release him described Stewart as a model prisoner as well as compliant and polite.

May 4-8 is Rape Awareness Week. Rape Prevention Education is launching an inaugural fundraising campaign to combat sexual violence and abuse. Txt "End Rape" to 846 to donate $3 now.