Sex predator to be released

An Invercargill sex predator who abused three children has again been granted parole.

Roger Alexander Bryant, 50, was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for rape and other sexual offending against young girls between 1993 and 2008.

He was sentenced by the Invercargill District Court in 2008, when Judge Kevin Phillips told him he was a sexual predator.

Bryant told the children they would suffer if they told anyone about the offending.

‘‘One victim has lived afraid of the dark ... because she had a reallife monster who came out of the dark to her,’’ the judge said.

Bryant appeared before the New Zealand Parole Board via audio-visual link earlier this month.

It was noted he had been released on parole on November 30, 2016, but was recalled on October 31 this year after breaching his release conditions by contacting a person aged under 16.

Bryant’s lawyer argued it was a technical breach and did not warrant a final recall order.

Concerns over his proximity to family who had young daughters were allayed, with Bryant ordered not to have any contact with them.

The board noted the concerns raised by his victims and Bryant said he understood how they would feel. He was granted parole and would be released this month, subject to conditions including undertaking counselling, strict curfews and not associating with girls aged under 16 unless under the direct supervision of an informed adult as approved by a probation officer.

An informed adult was a person aged over 20 who knew of his offending and would not support or collude with any further offending.