Brain disease hits convicted rapist Shipton

Brad Shipton.

Former cop and convicted rapist Brad Shipton has a rare and aggressive form of dementia.

The 55-year-old, described as a "predator" by an investigator into the Louise Nicholas sex scandal that rocked the police force and cost millions of taxpayer dollars, told the Herald on Sunday it was a miracle he was still alive.

Fellow former policeman Bob Schollum, who was also jailed for rape, has cancer, the Herald on Sunday has learned. Schollum is understood to be in remission and works at a car yard in Hawke's Bay.

But Shipton is unemployed and causing concern among the community over his increasingly erratic behaviour.

One of his closest friends confirmed he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. It's a degenerative condition with no cure, which over time affects behaviour, speech and movement.

"It's getting progressively worse. It's terrible for his family - they have gone through a hell of a lot."

Shipton, who lives alone in a Tauranga flat, has sparked community concerns after being accused of shoplifting at a supermarket and seen on the grounds of a Te Puke primary school.

New World supermarket bosses said he was found concealing items of food and police were called.

Shipton talked to the Herald on Sunday at a pokie bar.

He said he had found God and went to church twice a week. He was only at the school to relive fond memories. "I loved that school. I was there from 5 years old. My happiest memories are living in Te Puke." He denied he was guilty of shoplifting.

And he showed no remorse for his crimes. "The bottom line is I think to myself if I had ever done anything wrong in my life I can accept what's happened ... but I tell you ... I have never, never, ever harmed anyone."

Schollum could not be reached for comment.

- APN News & Media