Stevie Ryan Walker (26) was declined parole for the second time when he appeared before the board last month, a decision released to the Otago Daily Times confirmed.
The prisoner is midway through a jail term of eight and a-half years, imposed in 2015 after he was found guilty of rape and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
At a hearing at the Otago Corrections Facility, the Parole Board heard Walker had completed the Drug Treatment Programme and a stint of individualised psychological treatment.
But panel convener Martha Coleman was not convinced the prisoner fully appreciated the severity of the crimes that had landed him behind bars.
“The board noted the concern ... that Mr Walker may have intellectual understanding only of his offending and that his personality might prevent him seeking help. The board further noted the psychologist’s view that his release plan was fragile and that he had a limited support network,” she said.
They discussed the sex offences further with the man.
“It was concerning that on two occasions he framed his offending in the context of his consumption of alcohol,” Ms Coleman said.
“He spoke about his distorted view of what intimacy meant and the reasons why he sought intimacy. He also spoke about his entitlement issues which he acknowledged overrode his feelings of empathy with his victims.”
Walker’s first victim was an Invercargill woman whom he sexually abused in March 2014, after a night of drinking with friends.
He offered the woman his bed as she was feeling unwell but later sneaked in when the teen was asleep.
The second incident occurred less than three months later.
This time the victim — who, like the first, was known to Walker — had gone to sleep in her bed and let him sleep on her couch.
However, she woke several hours later to find her pyjama pants and underwear had been removed and the man was in bed beside her.
At sentencing, the court heard Walker had been bullied at school and had planned to pursue a career in psychology.
The Parole Board discussed with him the issue of consent at last month’s hearing.
Ms Coleman said it appeared Walker had developed a good understanding, “at least on an intellectual level”.
The board advised the prisoner to undertake the Release To Work programme and work on his release plan.
Ms Coleman said it would also be useful if Walker’s supporters could be identified and a “reintegration meeting” was held before his next parole hearing in March.
Walker’s sentence ends in March 2024.
