Sex offender has parole dance plans

A dance teacher jailed after having sex with an underage student wants to join dance classes, a soccer team and dating websites while on parole.

Stayz Te Atamira Raukawa, 45, told his probation officer he had made profiles on Facebook, Tinder and other dating websites, but he also wanted to join some clubs.

But his probation officer was worried Raukawa was being ‘‘dismissive as to his risks in his involvement with social media’’, a Parole Board decision said.

She asked the Parole Board to change his parole conditions so he could not join clubs without her permission, and so that she could go through his internet-capable devices and monitor his activity on social media.

Raukawa was released from Rolleston Prison in March, two years after he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at the Blenheim District Court.

He admitted four charges of unlawful sexual connection and eight counts of indecency with a 15-year-old girl. He was in his 30s, working as a dance teacher in the North Island when the offending happened, in 2005.

His original parole conditions did not forbid him from joining clubs or using social media.

The Parole Board only partly agreed with the probation officer’s application for new conditions, the decision said.

He should not have to seek approval before joining a club, it said.

‘‘The board would not wish to discourage Mr Raukawa from engaging in ageappropriate relationships, or belonging to groups, or coming into contact with people, that will enable him to engage with others of appropriate age.’’

Raukawa’s existing parole conditions already reduced his risk to young people in any clubs he might join, the board said.

Those conditions banned Raukawa from associating with people under the age of 16, unless he was supervised by an adult approved by probation.

‘‘We note that Mr Raukawa is discussing with his probation officer the clubs that he has joined and the activities in which he is involved, and that openness of disclosure is to be encouraged.’’

If probation was able to look through his internet-capable devices, the risk of him ‘‘associating with that group of potential victims’’ would be ‘‘appropriately mitigated’’, the decision said.

The Parole Board added a condition that Raukawa would allow probation to check his internet-capable devices, but declined the probation officer’s application for a ban on joining clubs without her approval.

Raukawa’s dance student Rebecca Sloan, who fought to have her name suppression lifted after Raukawa’s sentencing so he could be identified, said she was ‘‘so grateful’’ the probation officer voiced concerns.

‘‘This whole situation highlights the reason why fighting for name suppression to be lifted is so important. People deserve the right to know who’s at their soccer club or dance class, particularly when young people are concerned,’’ Sloan said.

Raukawa was a member of the Picton Football Club before his sentencing, but coaching co-ordinator Paul Barnes said Raukawa had not asked to re-join the club.

Even if he did, the club would not let him back in, Barnes said.

‘‘There’s too much water under the bridge in Picton, a lot of people know him. I’ve got nothing against him personally, but we can’t have him back.

‘‘He did some very, very good work for the club but because we’ve got young boys and girls in the club ... We can’t be seen to be associating with him.’’