New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Ian Herbert WINMILL

Hearing: 9 February 2018

at Whanganui Prison

Members of the Board:

• Mr N Trendle – Panel Convenor
• Mr P Elenio
• Ms S Pakura

Counsel:

• Ms A Brosnahan

Support People:

• [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Ian Herbert Winmill is making his first appearance before the Board on a sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment for serious sexual offending against five victims, three under the age of 12 and two under the age of 16.  He became eligible for parole on 31 January 2018 and he has a statutory release date of 30 January 2026.
2. Mr Winmill has a lengthy history of offending having accumulated around 85 convictions leading to a RoC*RoI of .5223.  Eight of those offences were of a violent nature and 12 involved sexual offending.
3. The Board received a psychological report dated 22 December 2017 setting out the psychologist’s assessment of Mr Winmill’s risk and rehabilitation pathway. The psychologist assessed him as being at high risk of sexually reoffending.  In particular, there were very high scores on the Violence Recidivism Scale for Sex Offenders in respect of deviance, criminality and responsivity.  The report referred to Mr Winmill’s assertion that he had no memory of the details of the offending against the first four victims and there were questions with the accuracy of his recall with respect to the fifth.  The report refers to the negative and hostile beliefs held by Mr Winmill in respect of women.  The report concluded with the recommendation that he attend the Child Sex Offender Treatment Programme and that he also address substance abuse issues at the Drug Treatment Programme.
4. Mr Winmill was represented today by his counsel Ms Brosnahan, who helpfully filed a short memorandum prior to the hearing confirming Mr Winmill’s willingness to complete the programmes that are on his sentence plan.  She submitted that he should have the opportunity to return to the Board in 18 months.
5. The Board received a written submission from Mr Winmill’s victim which was shown to him prior to the hearing.  That referred to Mr Winmill’s need to undertake and complete rehabilitation programmes while in prison.  Mr Winmill acknowledged the comments made by his victim and confirmed that it is his intention to address the matters referred to in the psychologist's report.
6. Parole today is declined.  There is significant work for Mr Winmill to complete before the Board could be satisfied that his release would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community.  The Board accepts the submission made on his behalf by Ms Brosnahan.  He will be scheduled to return to the Board in 18 months, by 30 October 2019.