Dewar sidelined from St John during police sex inquiry

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Former detective John Dewar has been sidelined from his job as a St John Ambulance executive while under investigation over police sexual misconduct claims.

St John chief executive Jaimes Wood confirmed yesterday that Mr Dewar had gone on leave while a commission of inquiry examines issues stemming from Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas' complaint of being pack-raped by police and violated with a baton.

Mr Dewar is under investigation for allegedly mishandling the complaint, and was accused last month by another woman of having group sex with her and two of the subjects of Mrs Nicholas' accusations.

The woman has sworn an affidavit alleging Mr Dewar joined Brad Shipton and Clint Rickards, who has been stood down as Auckland police commissioner, in manipulating her into having sex after a family tragedy.

Mrs Nicholas accused Mr Shipton and Mr Rickards of raping her along with a third police officer, Bob Schollum, who is now a Napier car dealer.

Mr Wood told the Herald that Mr Dewar, a former Rotorua CIB chief, left on Friday "on leave of absence by mutual consent while he focuses on the commission of inquiry".

Asked if this meant Mr Dewar was stood down as human resources manager for St John's Midland region in Hamilton, Mr Wood said: "It means he will not be at work conducting his normal duties while the commission of inquiry is conducted."

He would not say whether Mr Dewar would be on paid or unpaid leave between now and November, when Prime Minister Helen Clark wants Justice Bruce Robertson and Dame Margaret Bazley to report their commission findings.

Mr Dewar would not discuss his employment status yesterday, hanging up the phone at his Hamilton address after saying he had nothing to tell the media.

But St John's Midland regional manager, Eddie Jackson, said Mr Dewar categorically denied the accusations and needed the opportunity and time to defend himself.

"Mr Dewar is under a lot of pressure as you would expect because he's been alleged to have done a whole series of things in the media - he's obviously got to concentrate and clear his name in that regard."

Mr Jackson would not say whether union pressure or public image concerns prompted his organisation to ask Mr Dewar to step aside.

"That's speculation in that regard - we had no problems with the performance of Mr Dewar in his duties."