New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing
Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Donald John HANCOX

Hearing: 21 April 2017 at [Withheld]

Members of the Board:

• Judge J P Gittos QSO - Panel Convenor
• Ms G Hughes
• Ms W Taumaunu

Counsel:

• [Withheld]

Support Persons:

• [Withheld]
• [Withheld]

In Attendance:

• [Withheld]

RESERVED DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Donald Hancox is a 69 year old man serving a sentence of two years and three months imposed upon him for some 10 counts of obtaining monies by deception.  The background to this matter is that Mr Hancox was at the time of the offending employed as Executive Officer for the Upper Hutt College.  Over an extensive period whilst so employed and whilst he was responsible for the administration of an extensive building project at the school Mr Hancox took the opportunity of his position of trust to defraud the school of some $375,000 by means of raising a number of false invoices (77 in all) using some eight false entities and by this means directing the payments so made on those invoices into accounts controlled by himself.  Apart from the index offending he has no previous convictions.  Mr Hancox was represented before the Board by counsel, [Withheld], who made submissions on his behalf.

2. In terms of prison classifications Mr Hancox is rated as being at minimum security risk.  He has a RoC*Rol level of 0.03902, he is IDU free, has incurred no misconducts or adverse behavioural notes.  He has at all times being a polite and compliant prisoner.  In our interview with Mr Hancox he was forthcoming in acknowledging his offending and in disavowing the cognitive distortions which he employed to justify the offending to himself at the time.

3. It is plain that the effect of arrest and imprisonment have been salutary for him and quite devastating for [Withheld].

4. In view of the risk assessment to be extracted from his RoC*Rol level Mr Hancox is not eligible in the prison system to be enrolled for any substantive criminogenic rehabilitation programmes.

5. In view of all of the forgoing and having regard to the appraisal which we have made of Mr Hancox at interview, the Board is of the view that he does not present to the community as an undue risk of reoffending and he is a proper candidate for parole.  He is to be released on parole accordingly with effect from 8 May.  His release will be upon the following conditions, all of which are to prevail until sentence end date.
(1) To reside at [Withheld]  and not to move from that address without the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.
(2) To get written approval from a Probation officer prior to engaging in any paid or unpaid employment. This includes contact with, or membership to any clubs or voluntary organisations.
(3) You are not to have contact or otherwise associate with the victim(s) of your offending, directly or indirectly, unless you have the prior written consent of your Probation Officer.
(4) Not to engage in any employment, business or voluntary work that involves your handling other people’s money without the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.

Judge J P Gittos QSO - Panel Convenor