Counselling before release considered

A DUNEDIN man who sexually violated two women will remain behind bars until he has received counselling.

Stevie Ryan Walker (25) was found guilty at a Dunedin District Court trial in 2015 of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and rape.

Judge Michael Crosbie sentenced him to eight and ahalf years’ imprisonment. The prisoner came before the Parole Board for the first time last month at the Otago Corrections Facility where he is serving his term.

A psychological assessment undertaken in June classed him as a moderatetolow risk of reoffending.

However, it was recommended Walker undertake oneonone counselling after he had completed the Drug Treatment Programme.

‘‘We do think it is sensible that he undertakes treatment for those alcohol issues which were prevalent during his offending,’’ panel convener Bryan McMurray said.

Walker’s first victim was an Invercargill woman who he sexually assaulted in March, 2014.

The incident occurred after a night of drinking and socialising among friends at the house where Walker was living, the court heard at trial.

He had offered the woman his bed as she was feeling unwell.

Later that night, while the teenager was asleep, Walker got into the bed, took the complainant’s sweatshirt off and rolled her on to her back to commit the offence.

The second incident occurred occurred less than three months later.

The victim had gone to sleep in her bed and let Walker sleep on her couch.

But the 21yearold woman woke several hours later to find her pyjama pants and underwear had been removed and the man was in the bed beside her.

At sentencing, the court heard Walker had been the subject of bullying at school and planned to pursue a career in psychology.

It was his own psychological treatment that kept him behind bars.

Mr McMurray said the work the prisoner required would ‘‘take some time’’.

‘‘We believe without treatment having been completed prior to release, Mr Walker would be an undue risk to the safety of the community in the five years eight months left on his sentence,’’ he said.

The prisoner will next be seen by the board in December next year.

His release date is March 2024.