Released sex offender opposes GPS tracker

A NOTORIOUS Dunedin sex offender is arguing he should not have to wear a GPS tracker so his movements can be tracked.

Corrections’ application to have a range of release conditions imposed on Graeme Murray Purvis was heard before the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

The 53yearold was jailed for 18 months last year on two charges of possessing objectionable publications — featuring girls between the ages of 9 and 12 in sexualised poses.

Since his release, Purvis inad vertently appeared on the front page of the Otago Daily Times in the midst of a crowd celebrating the return of the America’s Cup.

The Dunedin parade took place during school holidays in July and there were hundreds of children taking in the spectacle.

It is understood the photo also caught the attention of Corrections staff.

Shortly afterwards, the application was made to impose several conditions, which the department said would militate against Purvis’ risk factors.

Crown prosecutor Richard Smith, on behalf of Corrections, said the defendant was consid ered a high risk of reoffending because of ‘‘victim blaming and denial’’ he had exhibited in the past.

Purvis’ most recent offending came only days after a previous sentence lapsed.

Before that, in 2013 he was jailed for three years when he took a friend’s computer while they were in hospital and used it to download child pornography.

In 2009, Purvis had been locked up for offences including grooming a 15yearold girl in the North Island.

Purvis developed a sexual relationship with her via telephone and sent text messages of an explicit nature, trying to persuade her to meet him and telling her to lie to her parents.

Mr Smith said his total criminal history, including ‘‘contact offending’’: indecent assault of a girl, should be taken into account by the court.

But counsel Debbie Ericsson told Judge John Macdonald the incident of molestation was in 1989 and all her client’s recent offending was internetbased.

She accepted Purvis’ access to the internet and his possession of electronic devices would have to be monitored.

But she said forcing the man to wear a GPS monitoring anklet was a step too far.

Mr Smith said it was not to restrict Purvis’ movements but to monitor them and deter him from further offending.

One of the release conditions — set to remain in place until September next year — bars the defendant from going to parks, playgrounds, schools, libraries or where people under 16 were likely to frequent.

Mr Smith said the proposed restrictions were a proportionate response to the threat Purvis potentially posed the community.

‘‘This is not an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff situation, this is about addressing risk.’’

Ms Ericsson told the court her client, who had not undergone intensive therapy, was now prepared to attend a sexoffender programme.

She said some of the proposed conditions were overly onerous and highlighted the fact the defendant needed to use computers for legitimate purposes, as he was completing NCEA studies and putting together a CV to apply for jobs.

Purvis was already subject to the constraints of being on the Child Sex Offender Register.

Judge John Macdonald will give his decision next week.

rob.kidd@odt.co.nz