Anger over Shipton parole request

Brad Shipton. File photo / NZ Herald

A bid by former policeman and convicted pack rapist Brad Shipton to have his parole conditions cancelled has upset victims' rights groups.

Louise Nicholas, a survivor advocate for Rape Prevention Education, and the Sensible Sentencing Trust spoke out after learning of Shipton's application to have his standard and special parole conditions discharged.

Shipton was released on parole from Wanganui prison in November 2008 after serving three years of an eight-year sentence for the pack-rape of a 20-year-old woman at Mount Maunganui beach hut in 1989.

The woman was raped by police officers Shipton and Bob Schollum and Tauranga millionaire Peter McNamara after she was lured to the hut on the pretext of a lunch date with one of the men.

The trio was convicted of the rape in 2005 and jailed on August 5, 2005.

Schollum was jailed for eight years while McNamara received seven years.

All three men have since been paroled; McNamara in January 2008, Schollum and Shipton in November 2008.

Shipton's sentence is due to end on January 3, 2014 but he applied to the Parole Board earlier this year to have the terms of his release changed.

Parole Board spokeswoman Sonja de Friez said a hearing with Shipton was held in February and the board also met the victim at Waikeria Prison late last week.

Ms de Friez said she was not able to give the exact details of the conditions Shipton was seeking to have varied but she confirmed he had applied to have his special and standard conditions discharged.

It was anticipated the board's decision would be released next week, she said.

Ken Evans, spokesperson for the Tauranga branch of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, said the organisation expected the Parole Board to apply appropriate conditions of release as per the Parole Act.

"We would not expect a convicted rapist to be given any special dispensation," he said.

"Mr Shipton already received early release from prison which is the first big point and I think the community was shocked about that. I am sure they would not be happy if his request to have his parole conditions softened further was granted."

The trust urged the Parole Board to consider the victim.

"Mr Shipton may want to get on with his life but for the victim this is something she will never get over and for her it is a life sentence."

Louise Nicholas agreed.

"It is absolutely appalling that he wants his parole conditions changed because he wants to move on with his life. So does the victim who must live with this for the rest of her life. He was convicted and sentenced for a heinous crime and he needs to pay for it by serving out his time. It would be beyond the pale if his release conditions were relaxed in any way."