New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Blair David BEAUMONT

Hearing: 14 June 2023

at Rolleston Prison by MS Teams

Members of the Board:

Ms A Markham – Panel Convenor

Dr S Davis

Mr C Roberts

In Attendance: [withheld] - Case Manager

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Blair David Beaumont, 38, made an appearance for consideration of parole on a sentence of three years seven months in respect of a large number of fraud offences and one of theft.  The offending spanned 30 months between 2018 and 2021 and resulted in losses of about $65,000 in relation to 39 victims.
2. Mr Beaumont’s methods varied, but included fake online sales and deposits for handyman work that was never completed.  Mr Beaumont has a very significant history of similar offending dating to 2002 and has been imprisoned on two previous occasions.  Prison has been no deterrent.
3. The sentencing Judge was somewhat sceptical of Mr Beaumont’s claims of alcohol and gambling issues as the driver of his offending,  and also rejected his offer of amends as “hollow, unrealistic and part of [Mr Beaumont’s] pattern of deceit.”
4. He was last seen at his first appearance on 9 August 2022.  At that time he had completed the DTP with a good report.  The Board likewise doubted that alcohol and gambling issues were all that lay behind his lengthy and diverse criminal history and supported his attendance at the MIRP Programme.
5. [withheld]
6. He commenced the MIRP in February and graduated very recently.  We have a report from the programme on file, which refers to his acceptable level of engagement and development of insight.  We also have a copy of his safety plan, which seems to the Board to be an adequate one.
7. Mr Beaumont has not had any specific intervention to address his gambling during his sentence, but plans to engage with the Problem Gambling Foundation upon release.  [withheld]
8. [withheld]
9. He has been accepted by [withheld] in Christchurch and the indication is that if accommodation were the only barrier two months’ stand-down would be sufficient to make the relevant arrangements.  The case  manager also plans for a reintegration hui next week with Mr Beaumont’s professional supports.
10. Mr Beaumont has been working in the prison servery with very positive file notes regarding his work ethic.  He has also been making efforts to reconnect with family members.
11. The Parole Assessment Report refers to Mr Beaumont saying he was “80 per cent” confident that he can refrain from offending.  The Board is mindful of his previous pattern of rapid re-offending.
12. To his credit Mr Beaumont recognises that returning to self-employment is not in his immediate future.  [withheld]
13. For today, with treatment only very recently concluded and with no accommodation, risk is undue.  Parole is declined.  We will see Mr Beaumont again in six months’ time, in December 2023.  As we have said to him, we think he would benefit from a period of reintegration, possibly release to work if that is made available to him.