Police investigator denies cover-up

By AINSLEY THOMSON

A former policeman accused of covering up the alleged pack-rape of a Rotorua woman by three policemen is standing by his handling of the investigation.

John Dewar, who at the time was detective inspector in charge of the Rotorua CIB, said that in 1993 Louise Nicholas made a complaint that three police officers - Clint Rickards, now an assistant commissioner, Brad Shipton, now a Tauranga District councillor, and Bob Schollum, now a used-car salesman - had raped her using a police baton about seven years before.

It was an allegation that Mr Dewar said he believed.

Mrs Nicholas told him she had consensual sex with the men - which they admitted - but had not consented to the baton being used.

Mr Dewar said she did not raise any allegations of pack-rape.

"My understanding was that all the sexual activity with the officers was consensual. But the one incident involving the baton wasn't."

He said a full investigation was carried out into the baton incident.

Mr Dewar has been criticised for handling the investigation himself when he had close associations with Mr Rickards and Mr Shipton.

But he said he had no relationship with the men other than a professional one, which ended a number of years ago.

"I would challenge anyone to come forward and tell me what relationship I have with those men. We don't socialise or go to each other's homes, we don't call each other up."

He said the reason he took over the investigation was that the detective constable in charge of the sexual abuse team was not senior enough and would have been investigating Mr Shipton, who was her senior.

Mr Dewar said because the allegations were so serious, his district commander agreed that he should carry out the investigation.

"I spent a lot of time with Louise and dealt with her in an absolutely professional way," he said.

"I was sympathetic and compassionate. I believed her and trusted in what she was saying to be the truth."

Any suggestions that his relationship with her was unprofessional were unfounded, he said.

A detective chief inspector brought in by the Police Complaints Authority to conduct an investigation into the case in 1995, Rex Miller, has commented that Mr Dewar had moulded Mrs Nicholas like play dough.

Mr Dewar said these comments were exaggerated and were only Mr Miller's opinion.

He had never told Mrs Nicholas not to make a complaint about pack-rape.

"There was no cover-up. A complaint [rape with a baton] was made and it was taken and acted upon. It wasn't investigated in a silo."

Charges were never laid. Due to the historical nature of the case there was a lack of supporting evidence and of independent witnesses. The officers had denied the allegation.

Mr Dewar said the case was reviewed by his superiors, police national headquarters and the Police Complaints Authority.

Yesterday, Mr Dewar produced police and authority documents that praised his police work.