David John Charteris, 69, was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment in 2019 after being found guilty at trial on seven counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one of committing an indecency with a boy.
He challenged the severity of the penalty, appealing to the High Court on the basis his prostate cancer diagnosis meant he might die behind bars.
But the Parole Board, in a decision released to the Otago Daily Times, ensured that was not the case.
Despite Charteris continuing to deny the sex crimes, a psychologist said he was a "very low" risk of reoffending.
The Rolleston Prison inmate was granted parole last month at his first hearing — his jail term is set to expire in September 2033.
Charteris, an ex-photographer for The Press newspaper in Christchurch, led a team of six staff and more than 200 volunteers providing psychological support for the victims of crime as the organisation’s southern area manager.
But hidden in his past was the extensive grooming and violations of a 12-year-old boy.
When the victim’s parents separated in the 1990s, Charteris established himself as a father figure for the boy, babysitting and taking him on road trips around the South Island.
The abuse occurred at various secluded locations and the final brazen act took place in a tent near a group of adults during a trip to Golden Bay.
The victim told the court Charteris had imposed on him "a life sentence of guilt, anger and turmoil".
"David knew from life experience I was easy pickings and yet he exploited that in the most despicable way", he said.
After Charteris’ sentencing in 2019, Victim Support admitted earlier receiving an anonymous complaint about him, which it never passed on to police.
The organisation’s chief executive accepted that was a mistake.
The victim made a written complaint to police in 2005, but charges were only laid 11 years later.
As yet, there has been no explanation for the delay and a police spokeswoman previously told the ODT "our approach has improved markedly in recent years".
Before his release, Charteris was a minimum-security prisoner and was described by Corrections staff as "always friendly, polite and compliant".
At his parole hearing, he was supported by various friends who stressed they would support him "every step of the way".
Panel convener Mary More highlighted some deficiencies in Charteris’ release plan but was ultimately won over.
"Mr Charteris spoke to the board with insight about his risk, how to stay out of situations that may give rise to offending", she said.
"Where we find ourselves is that Mr Charteris’ proposed special conditions, the support he has, and his insight into risk, satisfies us that if he is released his risk would not be undue."
His parole conditions include:
• To live at a Canterbury address which is approved by Probation.
• To attend a psychological assessment and any treatment as directed.
• Not to contact his victim.
• To obtain consent of Probation for any changes in employment.
• Not to have contact with anyone under-16.
• To inform Probation of any intimate relationship.
rob.kidd@odt.co.nz , Court reporter
