New Zealand Parole Board -

There is an order prohibiting publication of the name, address and occupation or identifying particulars of the offender and/or victim.

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

William James STEWART

Hearing: 2 December 2024

at Whanganui Prison via MS Teams

Members of the Board:

Sir Ron Young – Chairperson

Ms C Tiumalu

Dr J Skipworth

Ms K Coutts

Counsel: Ms M Lander

In Attendance: [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Mr Stewart, who is 29 years of age was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for raping [withheld] and then kidnapping and raping an 11-year-old girl.  At the end of his sexual assault on this young girl, he attempted to kill himself by driving at very high speed into a lamp post, but he was not injured.  The young girl managed to escape before the crash.  Prior to that, he had no previous convictions.
2. We last saw him in April 2024. One of his victims sought an exclusion zone throughout the South Island.  In our decision in April, we did not make any final decision about whether or not we would exclude the whole of the South Island.  In view of what we are going to do today, we leave the possibility of release to some places within the South Island open.  We do not make any final commitment. [withheld]. We will likely make a final decision on appropriate restrictions when we see him again in November 2025. [withheld].
3. Mr Stewart had been above average risk of sexual reoffending but after work that he completed, this was reduced to average risk of sexual reoffending. But more recently increased again to above average risk of reoffending.   His ASRS score is 2. He completed the Special Treatment Unit programme for Offending Against Children in December 2021 and completed all of the maintenance required.  He was transferred to Whanganui Prison, where he hoped to get some guided releases.
4. [withheld].
5. He said he had control of those emotions now, [withheld].  Whether or not that is the case, we leave to the psychologist to explore because we understand the way forward now, accepted by Mr Stewart, is that a psychologist will spend time working with him on a one-to-one basis, [withheld].  Mr Stewart accepts that there was a close connection between his offending and [withheld] at the time of the offending.  He says that he did deal with that in an extensive way at the STU:CSO Programme.  Corrections believe further work is required and we agree.
6. His further rehabilitative work will start in seven to eight months.  In the meantime, he has undertaken reintegrative testing by guided releases into the community. He has a very positive report from both his Case Manager and his PCO.
7. Mr Stewart says that he is now involved in music and each days plays his guitar. [withheld].
8. We accept that the psychologist and Mr Stewart have identified a sensible way forward.  As we have said, one-on-one work with a psychologist and reintegrative testing and developing a release plan.  To repeat, we are open to exploring the possibility of a release to somewhere in the South Island, but much will depend upon where and what further background information can be obtained from the victim.  And so, we will see him again by the end of November 2025.