Judge concerned about effects of second-strike sentence
A judge has expressed concern about a repeat sex offender’s prospect of being released from prison without support or supervision because of the three-strikes system.
Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish said it was a real concern that the offender would not be eligible for parole, and when he had served all of his sentence he would be released without significant support, oversight or supervision put in place.
Twenty-three-year-old Allan John Milne was today read the second of the three strikes warnings for repeat violent or sexual offenders. The system means he will not be eligible for parole and will serve the whole sentence of four years five months.
Judge Farish warned Milne that if he was released and offended in this way again he would be subject to preventive detention.
Milne was sentenced on a representative charge of sexual connection with a boy, meeting the boy for sexual grooming, and sexual connection with a young person.
Defence counsel Kirsty Gray said Milne was ready to accept a prison sentence and was extremely motivated to take part in a rehabilitation programme.
She said Milne had some learning difficulties, but had pleaded guilty to the charges early.
Judge Farish said Milne had done almost identical offending in 2011, and had just come off post-release conditions when this offending started.
Milne gravitated towards groups of young people and started texting an 11-year-old boy. He involved the child in online games, was affectionate towards him and hugged him.
When the boy turned 12 the text messages became sexual, and the sexual offending began.
She said the victim impact reports said the offending had a profound effect on the child, with significant on-going trauma for him and his parents.
Judge Farish said she did not believe that Milne knew what remorse was about, and if he was remorseful he would not have re-offended. She said he was sorry for himself.
She sentenced Milne to four years five months prison, and told him to attend the rehabilitation programmes while in prison.
Category: Focus
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