Paedophile's sister in hiding as vigilante attacks continue

Police in Christchurch say they have "beefed up" patrols in the area where vigilantes are targeting the house of a convicted paedophile's sister.

The innocent woman, who does not want to be named, has gone into hiding after her house was again hit by vandals who set her front lawn ablaze on Sunday. Earlier, condoms filled with red dye were thrown on to the property.

She has called for a police guard on her North New Brighton house and says she fears for her life.

Her house has been targeted over the past two weeks since it was revealed that her brother, convicted child-rapist Colin Davies, was seeking to be released on home detention to live with her.

Rocks have been thrown at the house and windows at a neighbouring house have also been broken.

Davies - who has served four years' jail for raping, sexually violating and indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl - had his request turned down by the Parole Board because the house was considered unsuitable.

His sister said she wanted to leave the property permanently but was "locked into a one-year lease". She said police had offered to talk to her landlord about releasing her from the contract.

"The [Canterbury police district] commander, Superintendent Sandra Manderson, guaranteed my safety, but it's not safe here," she said. "These vigilantes have to be stopped."

Ms Manderson reiterated yesterday that "vigilante behaviour will not be tolerated". She said she had assured the woman that police had an "alert in place" and would attempt to get to her property as soon as possible if further incidents were reported.

"Obviously her safety is extremely important to police," she said.

Ms Manderson said the woman had "ongoing contact" with police and had met them yesterday morning.

She said police wanted to make it clear to people vandalising the woman's property that Davies was not being released from prison and would not live at the house.

"His innocent family should not be targeted further," she said.

Police were investigating each incident and inquiries were continuing.

Ms Manderson said an inquiry she initiated into how information about the possible release of Davies into the community became public knowledge was also continuing and was expected to be completed before Christmas.

Two women, including the wife of a policeman, initiated a drop of hundreds of leaflets suggesting a dangerous sex offender was about to move into the house in Britannia St, North New Brighton.

Selau Ifopo-Sumner and flatmate Mandu Karatau-Keightley, whose husband is Rangiora policeman Geoffrey Keightley, distributed pamphlets to 12 streets near Britannia St.

The pamphlet warned that "men, women and children" were at risk from Davies and asked: "What would you do to stop him from coming?"

Ms Manderson has said that police disciplinary action was "an option" if strict codes of information privacy had been breached.

- NZPA