‘SWIRL FACE’ FREED
B.C. Corrections Branch issues public notification that convicted sex offender has been released from prison and plans to live in Vancouver
Christopher Paul Neil, once known as ‘Swirl Face,’ has been released from prison and plans to live in Vancouver.
According to a public notification Sunday by the Corrections Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the 42-year-old former teacher has a pattern of sexual offending behaviour against both pre- and early-pubescent boys.
Neil is subject to close monitoring by authorities and has to follow 18 court-ordered conditions including no contact with minors in person or on the Internet. He is also prohibited from possessing or accessing any electronic device or from getting any other person to do so on his behalf.
In a statement, B.C. Corrections spokeswoman Cindy Rose said public safety is a top priority.
“Mr. Neil is subject to an intensive level of monitoring and supervision in the community. B.C. Corrections will continue to work closely with the Vancouver Police Department and our partner agencies to monitor and enforce Mr. Neil’s 18 court-ordered conditions, Rose said.
“Privacy laws prevent us from providing details beyond those included in the public notification. However, we want the public to be aware of this individual’s presence in the community and to contact authorities if they observe Mr. Neil engaging in any activity that could be considered a violation of his court order. To be clear, any breach of conditions can result in an offender’s return to custody.”
When asked about Neil’s release, Vancouver police Const. Jason Doucette directed all queries to the parole board but said: “The VPD will continue to work closely with Corrections Canada to monitor offenders being released into Vancouver.”
Neil has a criminal history, including abduction of a minor, indecent act committed on a minor and accessing and possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to five charges in December 2015, including sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching of two Cambodian boys aged nine and 13, possession of child pornography (including some photos of him abusing boys) and accessing child pornography in breach of his parole conditions.
B.C. Supreme Court sentenced Neil to 5½ years in prison last June for sexual offences against the Cambodian boys as well as accessing and possessing child pornography. The sentence was reduced to just under 15 months because of time already served. During Neil’s sentencing, the judge ordered a lifetime ban on Neil going to parks, schools or anywhere commonly frequented by minors. Neil was also prohibited from owning electronic devices and accessing Internet (except for work) to five years beyond his parole.
Neil was the subject of an international manhunt after German police found hundreds of images of a man with a digitally swirled face abusing boys. He was arrested in Thailand in 2007 and spent five years in a Thai prison for sexual offences committed against two boys before being deported to Canada.