New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Susan Elizabeth TAINSH

Hearing: 22 March 2024

at Christchurch Women's Prison via Ms Teams

Members of the Board:

Judge A Skellern

Mr C Roberts

Mr A Hackney

Counsel: Ms K White

In Attendance: [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Ms Tainsh is aged 57 years.
2. She is serving a 2 year 2 month sentence of imprisonment fpr theft by a person in a special relationship. She, as the holder of an enduring power of attorney for a vulnerable man, used $243,310 for her own purposes, directly contrary to the terms of the power.
3. Ms Tainsh became eligible for parole on 12 March 2024. Her statutory release date is 21 August 2025, her sentence having commended on 22 June 2023. She has no offending history. This was her first appearance before the Board.
4. She has a RoC*RoI of .02116 and a security classification of minimum.
5. Ms Tainsh attended the hearing today, supported by [withheld].
6. In terms of her conduct in the prison, there were no issues raised by the PCO.
7. Ms Tainsh was represented by Ms White.  Ms White had filed written submissions noting that Ms Tainsh was seeking parole today, [withheld].  Ms White advised the Board that Ms Tainsh had taken the step herself of banning herself from gambling establishments, given that this was the driver of her offending.
8. [withheld]
9. In terms of the latest Parole Assessment Report, it was confirmed that Ms Tainsh had completed the Kowhiritanga Programme and had been accepted for maintenance sessions.  She was said to demonstrate good insight into her [withheld] gambling but to a degree, less into her offending.  However, Ms Tainsh was clear that that situation had altered after her engagement with Kowhiritanga and that she now was very clear that she was not entitled to the funds in any way, not legally, morally or ethically.  She expressed remorse for the harm that she had done to the victim’s family in terms of spending their inheritance and also the damage that she had done to her own family with her conduct.
10. The Board, in considering the special conditions in terms of release consider that Ms Tainsh is able to be released on the terms and conditions with a couple of additions and that as a result, she would no longer pose an undue risk to the community. Parole is granted.
11. She is to be released on 9 April 2024 on the terms and conditions set out in the Parole Assessment Report.  There will be additional conditions that she is not to possess or consume alcohol or drugs that are not prescribed to her and she is to be subject to a monitoring hearing by the end of September 2024.
12. Her release conditions will remain in place until six months post her sentence expiry date.
13. The Special Conditions are:

(1) To reside at [Canterbury region] or any other address approved in writing by a Probation Officer, and not move from that address unless you have the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.

(2) To attend an assessment for a departmental programme/maintenance group, and attend, participate in and adhere to the rules of the programme/maintenance group as directed by a Probation Officer.

(3) To attend a reintegration meeting as directed by a Probation Officer

(4) Not to engage in any betting or gambling either directly or indirectly.

(5) Not to have contact or otherwise associate, with any victim of your offending, [including previous offending] directly or indirectly, unless you have the prior written approval of a Probation Officer.

(6) Not to possess, use, or consume alcohol, controlled drugs or psychoactive substances except controlled drugs prescribed for you by a health professional.

(7) In September 2024 to comply with any direction made under section 29B(2)(b) of the Parole Act 2002 to attend a hearing at a time and place to be notified to you.