Sex offender said he ‘deserved’ victims

A child sex offender, who allegedly told reintegration programme staff he ‘‘deserved’’ to offend because he ‘‘worked hard to get’’ his victims, has lost yet another legal battle.

Allan John Milne, 30, served a four year and five month prison sentence for sexual connection with a boy, meeting the boy for sexual grooming, and sexual connection with a young person. He was released on January 31 last year, with an extended supervision order. An earlier psychologist’s report said there was a ‘‘high risk’’ Milne would offend again within 10 years of release.

In September 2018, he moved to a Christchurch property leased by reintegration programme provider, CRC Ltd. Milne often expressed his dissatisfaction with the accommodation, even bringing an application to the Tenancy Tribunal alleging among other things breach of his right to quiet enjoyment. His tribunal was unsuccessful.

It was alleged Milne also made comments to the effect that his victims consented to the offending, saying that he ‘‘deserved’’ to offend because he ‘‘worked hard to get them’’.

Despite his apparent dissatisfaction, he headed to court when told in January Corrections would not approve his residential address beyond January 31, when his intensive monitoring came to an end.Corrections informed Milne he would be placed at a residence on prison grounds until he could find another suitable address. Milne submitted this demand was unlawful because it was based on a mistake of fact, irrelevant considerations and that it was unreasonable and unfair.

The High Court disagreed, saying because Corrections’ duty was to ensure protection of the public, its decision to require immediate relocation was lawful and not unreasonable in the circumstances.

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