Freed rapist Michael John Carroll has spent well into five figures at a Wellington massage parlour and developed a military fantasy world since he was released from prison on February 11.
Carroll, paroled after spending 21 of the past 23 years in prison for five rapes, began to appear at the
parlour dressed in military uniform.
He was moved out of his house in Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, yesterday, hours after news broke that he was living there.
Carroll was sentenced to preventive detention in 1988 after committing a rape while on parole.
He was diagnosed as having a severe personality disorder, and was described by prison staff as one of New Zealand's most dangerous men.
He received a substantial compensation payout as a former Lake Alice patient.
After his release this year, Carroll began visiting a Wellington massage parlour up to five times a week, using the name Mike. Often he would book two or more prostitutes at a time.
Former staff said he was always courteous and some gave him the nickname "Uncle". He told some staff he had served time for murder.
Staff said Carroll, 44, became a self-appointed minder at the club.
He would step in if he thought a situation was developing or if a customer was out of order. He often drank at the club but did not become violent when drunk.
The parlour manager described him as "one of the best clients we had". Carroll spent well into five figures, he said.
But he said staff became worried when Carroll started turning up in military uniform.
At first, he wore an Army uniform. He said he had been accepted into the Army and would be heading to Iraq, and bought drinks as part of a farewell party. Carroll did not visit the club for a week, then reappeared, saying his plans had fallen through.
Soon after he began wearing a naval uniform.
"He started to live in this little dream world about going to war," the manager said.
Carroll stopped visiting the club about five weeks ago, by which stage a former staff member said colleagues were becoming concerned.
"If he's run out of money and he's been used to doing what he has been, then things could be dangerous," she said.
Staff at the Sand Bar in Mana said Carroll had been a customer there, though he had not been seen recently.
A regular at the pub said Carroll had told him he had been injured fighting for the United States Marines and that nine of his fellow Marines had been killed.
Pukerua Bay residents found out yesterday that Carroll was living in an isolated street in the settlement, next to a reserve.
Police would not say where he had been taken.
- NZPA
Freed rapist Michael John Carroll has spent well into five figures at a Wellington massage parlour and developed a military fantasy world since he was released from prison on February 11.
Carroll, paroled after spending 21 of the past 23 years in prison for five rapes, began to appear at the
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