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The latest woman to claim she was manipulated into group sex by convicted rapist Brad Shipton went on to marry one of the men she says was on the video that has sparked a new police sex inquiry.
Debbie Gerbich of Tauranga gave the Sunday News access to a videotape showing Shipton involved in a group sex session some time after late 2001.
The Weekend Herald has learned Mrs Gerbich was yesterday speaking to officers from Operation Austin, the police historic sex crimes inquiry team.
Her identity and that of two of the three men involved was kept secret in the Sunday News, although the newspaper did say one was her partner and all were former officers.
Mrs Gerbich told the newspaper that although she thought the sex to be consensual at the time, she now felt she was manipulated and made to perform "like a circus seal".
She separately claimed that serving officers used batons and handcuffs in other group sex sessions with her.
Mrs Gerbich's claims prompted Police Minister Annette King this week to call for an urgent report, Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope to order an investigation and Prime Minister Helen Clark to say she was "extremely disturbed" by the allegations.
The Weekend Herald can reveal Mrs Gerbich's partner at the time of the hour-long video was former detective Warren Gerbich. The video was made in 2001. She married Mr Gerbich in May 2002 in a public ceremony won in a radio competition.
Mr and Mrs Gerbich have since separated and Mrs Gerbich, a former champion bodybuilder, now has another partner. She was unable to be contacted yesterday.
Sources close to Shipton, who is in jail for the pack rape of a woman in Mt Maunganui in 1989, said Mrs Gerbich's marriage undermined her claims that she was manipulated into the sex.
Shipton has denied being cruel to Mrs Gerbich.
Shipton's lawyer, Bill Nabney, told the Weekend Herald he had relayed an apology from Mrs Gerbich to Shipton this week but would not say what she had apologised for.
Mr Gerbich said he had done "nothing wrong" and was unaware the Sunday News had been given access to the video until he saw the newspaper on sale. He said he was "incommunicado" with his former wife and was angry that the video had been released and his identity discovered. "I am a private citizen and I have committed no offence."
Mrs Gerbich did not complain to the police before releasing the video to the Sunday News.
Editor Chris Baldock said the newspaper - which does not have a copy of the tape - was co-operating fully with the police. He said he had viewed all of the tape, denying claims it had not been viewed in its entirety.
Mr Baldock would not comment when asked if the newspaper paid Mrs Gerbich for the story.
