Paedophile cannot find place to stay

A three-times convicted paedophile struggling to find a place to live says he is being victimised by a lack of support for recently released offenders.

Roy Leach, 61, left Auckland's Paremoremo Prison on Wednesday after serving 6-1/2 years of a 10-year sentence for sexually assaulting young girls.

He says he has no home, no money, no bank account and no financial support, and cannot find accommodation the probation service deems suitable.

If it was not for the support of his son and ex-wife Fran Bedford-Wells, he says he would be roaming the streets.

Mr Leach was jailed in 1998 for sexually assaulting young girls in the 1970s -- offences he still denies -- but he admits indecent assaults on girls under five which resulted in jail sentences in 1968 and 1970.

Ms Bedford-Wells claims her former husband deserves another chance. He completed a 10-month counselling course for sex offenders and is adamant he will never offend again.

In anticipation of his father's release, son Tony has moved 14 times in two years. The family says that after each move authorities said the location was unsuitable for Mr Leach.

On Thursday, son Tony's Bader St address was ruled out because children live next door.

The family says investigations into getting a State or pensioner house proved fruitless.

Community Probation Service central regional manager Heather Mackie said it was not the service's job to find accommodation.

"Instead it is our role to check the suitability of any suggested accommodation, after taking into account the risk the (former) offender poses to the safety of the community."

Mr Leach said Hamilton night shelter staff told him it would be unsafe for him to stay and he has no money to stay at a hotel.

He claims his lack of a bank account prevents him getting Social Welfare help and expiry of his driver's licence while in jail left him with no photo ID to get a bank account.

"There needs to be a bridge to help rehabilitate released prisoners. Not only me, but everybody coming out of jail could have these problems," he said.

He has temporary accommodation for the next month in a rented room.

Ms Mackie was satisfied Mr Leach was being appropriately managed and monitored.

Community safety was paramount in approving a residence, and staff were entitled to tell people about an offender if they posed a "serious and imminent threat".

- nzpa