New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Geordy Peter Brian JOHNSTONE

Hearing: 10 September 2020

at Otago Corrections Facility

by AVL from New Zealand Parole Board, Wellington

Members of the Board: Sir Ron Young (Chairperson), Ms K Coutts, Mr C King

Support Persons: (withheld)

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Mr Johnstone was sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment for possession of objectionable material.  There were a large number of charges.  He has a final release date of November 2022.  His current security classification is low/medium.  He did have an indecent assault charge in 2016 of potential relevance.  This is his first time before the Board.
2. As far as the facts are concerned, Mr Johnstone had possession through his computer of 5681 images and videos. A number of the images were of very serious violations of children, most were in category A, the most serious sexual assault category relating to children.  Some involved very young children.
3. We have a letter from Mr Johnstone acknowledging that he did not really have a case for release today. In saying that he now understands the serious affect on children that his involvement in the possession and distribution of objectionable material has had.
4. Mr Johnstone is motivated to undertake the Child Sex Offender Treatment Programme and he is identified to do that as appropriate.  It is due to start early in 2021.  We commend his motivation.  We will see him again by the end of November 2021 in the hope that he has completed that programme and can then look forward to appropriate reintegration.  In the meantime, he remains an undue risk.