Sex offender faces tough restrictions

When repeat sex offender John Burnard Lynch gets out of prison next year, he will not be allowed to go to parks, schools or playgrounds.

He will also need written permission to join clubs, teams, groups, and even churches, and cannot associate with people younger than 16 without proper supervision.

Lynch, 72, is nearing the end of his jail sentence for indecent assault. He will serve his full term, but that runs out in January, and he is considered a high risk of reoffending.

Lynch started abusing a girl on the night of her ninth birthday party, and would rub himself against her and show her pornographic films. He denied the offending, but was found guilty after a trial in the Palmerston North District Court in 2013.

He was seen by the Parole Board this month for the final time and was denied an early release from prison.

In its decision, the board said Lynch still denied any wrongdoing.

He had given the same proposed release address for two years, but it had been deemed unsuitable, the board said.

Lynch has more than 20 convictions for sexual offending, most of them against young girls.

A psychologist rated him at high risk of sexual offending, and said his release plan was inadequate to manage that risk.

The Department of Corrections has applied for monitoring of Lynch after his release under an extended supervision order. A hearing about it is due to happen next month.

The board said Lynch’s knowledge of his safety plan was ‘‘very poor’’, and it recommended he have a reintegration hui with his family so they could understand how to manage his risk.

When he is freed, he will not be allowed to possess, use or consume alcohol, psychoactive substances or any illegal drugs.

The board said he would be subject to a testing regime, and may have to wear an electronic bracelet to monitor his compliance.

He must be home between 10pm and 6am every day, tell his probation officer about any intimate relationships, and get written permission from his probation officer before starting or finishing paid, unpaid or voluntary work.

He cannot go to places where young people may congregate and he will be monitored by GPS technology.