Sex offender given 12-month deferred sentence

A serial paedophile, dubbed the 'Beast of Christchurch', was back in court today to admit breaching his strict supervision conditions.

Child rapist Lloyd Alexander McIntosh, 39, appeared at Christchurch District Court flanked by two guards to plead guilty to the breach.

He has been living in accommodation on the grounds of the city's Men's Prison since his release from jail in 2005, where he served time for offences including the rape of a 23-month-old baby and a six-year-old, and assaulting an intellectually disabled woman.

His strident release conditions include that he must be accompanied in public, and a ban on internet use.

He cannot have contact with anyone aged under 16 unless supervised, get a job without written consent of the probation officer, or have contact with victims.

But the court heard today that the man whose case has been most compared to the Beast of Blenheim, Stewart Murray Wilson, was not likely to reoffend.

His breach, between April 4 and May 15 this year, involved him transferring money to another resident of Salisbury Street Foundation on three separate occasions, totalling $190.

The transactions were not approved by staff and amounted to a breach of his supervision conditions, the Probation Service said.

The breach was described by a judge as "relatively minor" and was not an indication that he'll reoffend in the way that led to his imprisonment.

Judge John Macdonald said McIntosh had complied with his conditions for a long period.

He added it was McIntosh's first breach of the order, and was not related to his earlier type of crimes.

Judge Macdonald noted it appeared "an isolated lapse" which was "unlikely to be repeated".

McIntosh was given a 12-month deferred sentence for him to show it was a one-off incident.

As he was led out of the temporary Christchurch court facility at Nga Hau e Wha marae, again guarded by two male staff, he was taunted and called a "kiddie fiddler".

A man, who had earlier been in court for dishonesty offences, followed McIntosh and pushed one of the guards.

As McIntosh was bundled into a waiting car before speeding off, the protester confronted another, entirely innocent bystander, and was led away by court security staff.

Earlier inside court, before his case was considered, his defence counsel Andrea Sumner tried to block a media application for McIntosh to be photographed inside court.

She argued that having his photo in the media would set back his rehabilitation.

Ms Sumner also claimed that "if it wasn't for the Wanganui situation" - in a reference to Wilson's imminent release under similar conditions imposed on McIntosh - then the case "probably would have gone under the radar".

Judge Macdonald noted the objections, but granted the application anyway.

McIntosh's supervision has cost the taxpayer more than $1 million.

He is due to finish his supervision in 2015 when he will be released to live in the community without monitoring.

Last year, his conditions were changed to extend his curfew from 8.30am to 7pm.