Despite being assessed as being at a high risk of reoffending, Wilson has to be released by September. Strict conditions on his release imposed by the Parole Board are set to expire in September 2015, at which point a 10-year supervision period will begin.
The Parole Board has often been criticised in the past for making the wrong decisions, but in this case it has done well under the circumstances.
Many of us would want Wilson to rot in jail, but for that to happen we would have to lobby our politicians to change the laws. Forced as it was to release him, the board has gone as far as it could to make life as difficult as possible for him. This is a good thing. For what he did, Wilson needs a bit more suffering in his life. Why should he be entitled to a nice, comfortable life?
He will housed in a house to be built on Wanganui Prison property and will have to pay rent.
He will be electronically monitored and can't move or leave the Wanganui district without the prior written approval of a probation officer. There are tough conditions around who he can interact with - under-16-year-olds and women being off-limits unless he has written permission and an approved adult is with them.
The board said Wilson could not take on a job or join a club, group, association, church, or support or addiction group without approval from his probation officer.
He can't advertise without approval or use an internet-accessible device without supervision by an appropriate person.
Wilson must not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs. He will also have to attend psychological sessions and will attend a hearing in three months to monitor his compliance with the conditions.
I haven't seen such strict parole conditions before and this shows the board is finally making the safety of the community the priority.
Let's hope it is enough.