Sex attack victim tells of 'betrayal' by officials

Andre Port in court for his sentencing yesterday. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A nurse abducted at knifepoint and sexually assaulted by a paroled prisoner says she feels betrayed by the Corrections Department because it did not tell her he was a sex offender.

Andre Charles Port was yesterday jailed indefinitely for two sex attacks on women, committed soon after he was released from a 10-year prison term for similar sex crimes.

Three days after his strict supervision orders were relaxed slightly in May 2008, Port crept up on a woman in the changing rooms at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland.

He tried to drag her into a sauna but fled when the woman bit his finger.

Two weeks later, Port abducted a nurse from the Epsom Lodge, where he was staying.

She was there to help him quit smoking and agreed to give him a ride in her car.

At knifepoint, Port made her drive to a country road in Muriwai, West Auckland.

Port sexually assaulted her in the car twice, the woman said.

Nearly two years after the attack, she had been unable to return to work as a mental health nurse and had post-traumatic stress because of the "disgusting" violation.

She had since struggled in her relationships with friends and family, was fearful of driving and struggled with wearing makeup.

The Corrections Department declined to comment until the appeal period ended in 30 days.

Sentencing Port to preventive detention with a minimum non-parole period of seven years, Justice Hugh Williams said yesterday the indefinite term of imprisonment was the "only way the proper protection can be given to society ..."

Psychiatric reports showed Port had a "sadistic sexual mindset" and showed no signs of rehabilitation despite years of attending sex programmes in prison, the judge said.

There was a "very high risk" of Port committing sex or violence crimes if he were released back into the community in the future.