KEY POINTS:
If Brad Shipton was to reoffend, he would likely commit a sexual assault on an adult woman in the context of a brief sexual liaison, a psychologist says.
In a psychological report presented to the Parole Board, the former police officer and convicted rapist is deemed at low risk of further sexual offending, despite denying his crime to the psychologist.
The board used the psychological report to help assess Shipton's suitability for parole at a hearing last month, and though it refused to release him, adjourned the case until September after Shipton acknowledged aspects of the offending to the board panel.
His comments to the panel were revealed in the board's decision released on Saturday, and represent Shipton's first admission of involvement in the 1989 pack rape of a 20-year-old woman at Mt Maunganui.
Panel convener Judge Carolyn Henwood said Shipton effectively described a rape and she adjourned the case to gain another psychological assessment.
"The board struggled with the [first] psychological assessment in light of the new attitude of Mr Shipton displayed at the board hearing," her decision said.
The decision does not say when the psychologist's report was written, but Judge Henwood said it was clear at the hearing that Shipton had "moved on his thinking quite considerably".
"We note that he has disclosed to the board that he has ruined the life of the victim. It is our opinion that restorative justice may not be out of the question."
The victim, whose name is suppressed, said she would explore the possibility of restorative justice but that Shipton's admission meant "absolutely nothing" to her.
"I'm not happy about the confession," she told a Sunday newspaper.
"He told this to the board three weeks ago. As far as I'm concerned it's another manipulation."
Louise Nicholas echoed her comments, telling the newspaper she hoped Shipton's words were not a "blatant ploy for early release".
The victim in the 1989 rape came forward after Mrs Nicholas alleged she was raped by Shipton, Bob Schollum and former police assistant commissioner Clint Rickards.
