Taranaki couple jailed for elderly neglect get parole

A couple jailed for the ill-treatment of an elderly woman have been released from prison.

A Taranaki couple jailed for the ill-treatment and neglect of an elderly woman have been released from prison.

Terrence and Erica Heppell, both in their sixties, were sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment in October last year, for the mistreatment of Terrence's mother Beatrice.

In 2014, Beatrice Heppell was found by ambulance staff in what was described as an appalling state.

Beatrice, who is in her nineties, was found surrounded by human and cat faeces, had several bed sores, mould under her breasts and open wounds that were leaking fluids.

At the couple's sentencing Judge Chris Sygrove said Beatrice was at the mercy of the couple and was utterly unable to care for herself.

The Heppells came up before the parole board at separate hearings in September.

In its report, the Parole Board said Erica Heppell accepted the facts of the case and that she had "badly let down someone that she cared deeply about".

The Board decided that she would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community and noted her excellent behavioural record while incarcerated.

The police's summary of facts heard at Terrence Heppell's hearing outlined how an occupational therapist referred to visit Beatrice at the Heppells' home in May 2014 made urgent recommendations to the family which were ignored.

That neglect continued for approximately four and a half months until an ambulance was called and staff found Beatrice in appalling conditions.

Terrence's counsel requested that parole should be granted given the "very situation-specific nature" of the offending and his unlikelihood of reoffending.

"His reduced level of risk can properly be managed within the community subject to conditions of parole," they stated.

The Board accepted that the offending and its consequences for Heppell's mother were "very severe" but were satisfied that the risk of further offending can properly be managed.

The couple were granted parole and left prison on October 2.

They are both subject to release conditions which will be in place until April 2018 and will have supervised contact with Beatrice, who now resides in a rest home.