KEY POINTS:
Convicted pack rapist Brad Shipton could return to jail after allegedly breaching his parole conditions.
Shipton, a former police officer and Tauranga councillor, was released on parole from Wanganui prison in November after serving more than a third of his 8 year sentence for pack rape of a woman at Mt Maunganui.
But police received a tip-off on Wednesday from a member of the
public who alleged Shipton was having a coffee with co-accused Peter McNamara in Mt Maunganui. That person took a photograph which was given to police.
A special condition of Shipton's parole is that he was not to communicate with his co-offenders. McNamara was released in January after serving a third of his seven-year sentence.
Parole Board communications manager Sonja de Friez confirmed a breach complaint had been lodged against Shipton.
A recall hearing had been set for the first week of February.
However, Shipton's lawyer Bill Nabney told the Herald last night the allegation of a breach was false. "Mr Shipton has denied the allegation. He was in Auckland at the time which has been alleged that he was having coffee in Mt Maunganui."
Mr Nabney said he would present to the Parole Board CCTV footage of Shipton entering a building in Auckland at 9.42am on Wednesday, one minute after the claimed sighting in Mt Maunganui.
"Mr Shipton could not have been in Mt Maunganui having coffee, then turned up in Auckland one minute later. We will provide this evidence, and it is up to the Parole Board to decide the accuracy of this allegation."
If recalled to prison, Shipton could be forced to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Shipton has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
