Ashley Donald PEACH 27/11/2024

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Ashley Donald PEACH

Hearing: 27 November 2024

at Rolleston Prison

Members of the Board:

Sir Ron Young - Chairperson

Prof P Brinded

Mr A Hackney

Ms C Tiumalu

Counsel: Mr M Starling

Media: Mr J Wilkinson – NZ Herald

In Attendance: 

[withheld] - Case Manager

[withheld] – Reintegration Coordinator

[withheld] – NZPB Communications Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Mr Peach who is 57 years of age was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 2009.  Prior to that he had 10 pages of convictions involving earlier sexual offending, property offending and violence.  This was extremely serious offending. He attacked a woman who had come to his house and there was a sexual element to the violence when he killed the woman.
  2. The victim’s family have asked that he not be released to the Wairarapa and Christchurch.
  3. His ASRS is 3, his RoC*RoI 70.
  4. We last saw him in July 2023. He told us then, for the first time, he had been using methamphetamine in the time of his offending.  There was some reason to doubt the efficacy of that claim.  Today he told us a rather different story that somehow, he was wanting to get back into prison [withheld] and so he decided to commit a crime, but never intend to kill the woman but did intend to sexually attack her.  Again, it is difficult to know whether or not that claim is true, although it seems unlikely given the passage of time.
  5. [withheld], he was identified to do the Adapted Child Sex Offender Treatment Programme, which he has now completed.  The way forward recommended by the psychologist and supported by the Board of six steps is as follows.  Firstly, completing the Adapted Child Sex Offender Treatment Programme (now completed).  [withheld]. Step three the Kia Marama Graduates’ Group including going through his offence chain to include new information from the treatment sessions.
  6. At the moment he has worked through to stage 2 but has significant further work to do at stage 3.  Stage 4 involves reviewing treatment goals and sharing in the graduates’ group.  Step 5 developing behavioural skills by spending time in employment, developing relationships with the staff and then, finally, step 6 reviewing engagement, reintegration and release planning.
  7. Mr Peach is motivated to undertake the identified stages (as above) as his rehabilitation and reintegration.
  8. Overall, he has behaved appropriately in prison. He is employed as a painter and is said to be generally compliant.
  9. We will see him again in about 18 months’ time, by the end of May 2026.  In the meantime, he remains an undue risk.  We hope that he has been able to progress significantly on the steps identified and supported by the Parole Board.
  10. Finally, the media were present at the hearing today.  [withheld].

Sir Ron Young

Chairperson