12yo’s pimp free again
INE DEV Y GAR OLE PAR ES MAK
THE Parole Board has released the Hobart man who in 2009 pimped out a 12-year-old girl to more than 100 men — despite a long list of concerns.
The board’s published decision acknowledges Gary Devine’s “extensive history of offending”, his “inability to maintain abstinence” from drugs and alcohol while in the community and his prior convictions for breaching court orders. But it concludes the 59year-old should nevertheless be released under strict conditions because he understands “what he needs to do in order to stop the cycle from occurring”.
GARY Devine — the man responsible for pimping out a 12-year-old Tasmanian girl to more than 100 men in 2010 — has been released from jail early, despite a long history of offending.
Devine, 59, has been released on parole on condition he does not consume alcohol or illicit drugs; does not enter a licensed premises; undergoes ongoing counselling with alcohol and drug services; engages with a psychologist as part of a mental health plan; is subject to a curfew and does not associate with his co-offender or contact the victim.
Devine was convicted in 2010 of prostituting the 12-year-old girl at a city hotel and his home in Glenorchy and sharing the proceeds with her mother.
The girl’s mother is back in the community after serving seven years for her part in the moneymaking venture the Parole Board deemed involved the repeated exploitation and abuse of a child.
Devine became eligible for parole late last year but asked for more alcohol and other drug counselling. He had attained minimum security classification in November 2013 and during “reintegration leave” over the past two years, the board said there had been “no reported incidents of him using alcohol or other drugs, either at prison or while on leave.”
However, a pre-parole report noted his dysfunctional upbringing and history of drug and alcohol abuse. “His alcohol and drug issues have been significant for a number of years,” the report said.
Devine has previously been sentenced to community service orders on three occasions and probation orders on two.
“The applicant’s engagement was satisfactory but he required close supervision in structured environments to enable him to address his issues,’’ the report said, but noted that “sustainable change was never achieved with the applicant failing to complete residential drug treatment programs and remain stable enough to facilitate the process of change”.
Devine’s record of prior convictions includes breaches of suspended sentences and restraint orders, family violence orders and for driving while disqualified.
The victim did not submit an impact statement but the statement from the hearing said the crimes had a devastating impact on her, causing estrangement from key members of her family and adversely affecting her social relationships.
“She has experienced what appear to be trauma-related symptoms as consequence of the offending,” the Parole Board said.
Premier Will Hodgman said he understood community concern over Devine’s release. Chair of Prisoners Legal Service Greg Barns said he believed the board had made a considered decision.
“It is much better for the community that a person has the support and supervision of the parole system rather than being released unsupported at the end of their full sentence,” Mr Barns said.
Mr Hodgman said the Government had tried to ensure the perspective of victims was considered by placing a victim’s representative on the Parole Board.
“I believe Tasmanians are concerned about those who offend against our children,” he said.
“We can’t undo what has happened in the past. But we will do what we can into the future to bring forward strong laws that protect victims, particularly children, who are abused and to ensure that our courts are adequately empowered to provide a sentence to an offender that meets expectations.
“I think it’s important though that we do what we can to better empower courts to sentence those who commit serious crimes against children to jail.”