New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Sean Gladys SURGEON

Hearing: 2 February 2021

at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison

Members of the Board: Sir Ron Young – Chairperson

Mr B McMurray

Ms F Pimm

In Attendance:                                  (withheld) – Case Manager

Support Persons: (withheld)

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Mr Surgeon, who is 54 years of age, was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment for unlawful sexual connection and indecent assaults.  The offending occurred in 2006, 2014, 2017.  It involved three victims.  One set of offending did not come to light until Mr Surgeon was in prison with respect to the other offending.  His sentence was increased by 11 months relating to that offending after he pleaded guilty at trial after the complainant had given evidence.
2. We saw him last in September 2020.  At that stage, there was concern whether the Short Intervention Programme was sufficient given the further offending and the appropriate restrictions on release.
3. Today, we have a psychological report, assessing both risk, rehabilitation and reintegration.  The psychological report notes that Mr Surgeon can get into a dark place and then he becomes vengeful.  The three children he sexually abused were children of friends of himself and his family.   He  apparently has a poor ability to deal with stress.  He still sees the world as somewhat unfair and the psychologist thought there was too much focus and reliance on (withheld) as (withheld) and that if for some reason (withheld)  was not available to support him he would be vulnerable to further offending. The psychologist thought further work was required on his release plan.
4. As a result, it was suggested that he needed some further one-on-one counselling to deal with the issues raised in the psychological report.  That is now to be undertaken.
5. As a result of that, therefore, we are satisfied he remains an undue risk and cannot be released.
6. There are several matters relevant to his release.  Mr Surgeon is asking to be released to (withheld) which seems an appropriate release address.  He will likely be prohibited from going to the Wellington area, to the Manawatu area and to the Hawke’s Bay area upon release.
7. We will see him again, therefore, by the end of August 2021 when we hope to have a report on the work he has done with a psychologist, reassessing risk and assessing the appropriateness of his release plan.