Paroled rapist back in court

A convicted rapist has been charged with sexually violating and unlawfully detaining a 16-year-old girl while on parole.

The 35-year-old was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2005 for spiking women's drinks and plying others with alcohol so he could rape and indecently assault them.

He was released on parole in March 2009 after serving just over half his sentence.

He has been recalled to prison after appearing before Auckland District Court on the latest charges on April 9.

Parole Board spokeswoman Sonja de Friez said the man was refused parole twice before being released. He completed rehabilitation, counselling, and drug and alcohol programmes.

Psychological and risk assessments said he had a low risk of reoffending.

He had sent written apologies to his victims, who included three rape victims, and since his release had received maximum monitoring.

"Our ability to monitor offenders can only be conducted for one year," she said. "We hand over responsibility to the Department of Corrections."

The man would go before a Parole Board hearing in a fortnight and was likely to serve the rest of his sentence, de Friez said.

Safe Network clinical co-leader Russell Smith, who works with sex offenders, said they should have mandatory treatment.

He said it reduced the risk of reoffending from 28 per cent to 5 per cent.

"Low-risk is not no-risk."