Sex offender called victim Attacker ‘not sorry in the slightest’
A HIGHRISK sex offender managed to call his victim despite being under 24houraday monitoring, a court has heard.
Zac Hakes (23) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday where Judge Michael Crosbie noted the breach of the extended supervision order (ESO) was his fourth similar conviction.
The order, which allows Corrections to monitor highrisk offenders, is due to run until September 2024.
It was imposed after Hakes was released from prison at the end of 2018, after serving 26 months for sex offences against two girls, as well as a domesticviolence charge.
The court heard yesterday that among the defendant’s restrictions was the condition not to contact his victims.
However, on March 30, Hakes used a landline phone to call an associate, who put him in touch with his female victim.
He misled staff at the supervised residence at which he lived so they believed he was simply calling a family member.
The Wellington victim — who was now an adult — provided her number to Hakes and they spoke again twice more.
The defendant later explained he had contacted her because he wanted to find out whether their previous contact had led to her becoming pregnant.
Hakes told Probation he was “feeling lonely and down” at the time and felt better when he heard the victim professed her love for him.
His first breach of the ESO came within weeks of his release from prison.
Hakes barricaded himself inside his room — where he was housed with other sex offenders — and refused to follow the rules of the residence.
The transgression resulted in a deferred sentence.
Months later, Hakes used a cellphone to send a friend request via Facebook and admitted to using the dating app Tinder.
He was jailed for three months. Counsel Sarah SaundersonWarner argued a prison term should not be imposed for the most recent breach because Hakes was making progress with his treatment.
But Judge Crosbie was unconvinced.
A psychologist’s report acknowledged some gains made by the defendant but also highlighted a “potential to be dishonest and deceitful with authority figures”.
There still existed issues with impulsivity and sexual preoccupation, it said.
He still presented as a high risk of sexual reoffending, the court heard.
The judge suggested Hakes lacked insight into his crimes.
“I'm concerned about the safety of the victim but also other members of the community,” he said.
Hakes was jailed for seven months.
A MAN who committed assault because he was angry about having his benefits reduced will now be further out of pocket after being ordered to pay reparation to his victim.
Michael Desmond Paul Forde (53) was sentenced yesterday in the Dunedin District Court for assaulting a mental health worker and for trespassing at a mental health facility during the same incident on March 11.
Counsel Chris Lynch told the court the incident had arisen because her client was ‘‘very upset’’ with a reduction in his benefit payments.
‘‘Mr Ford has been doing really well . . . short of this incident,’’ Ms Lynch said.
Since 2013 he had been under a Mental Health Act community treatment order, the court heard.
‘‘He’s a man that generally does pretty well in the community, living independently,’’ Ms Lynch said.
There was an acceptance of wrongdoing and a commitment to not offending again, she said.
However, Forde expressed contrary feelings to the court.
“I want to tell you I’m not sorry for assaulting that guy.
‘‘I’m not sorry in the slightest. ‘‘He made a mountain out of a molehill,” he said.
Judge Jim Large said on the day in question Forde had attended the facility and was asked to leave.
‘‘You did, and then came back,’’ Judge Large said.
‘‘When you went back the conversation became angry.’’
The altercation then turned violent.
Forde punched the victim twice and caused a concussion.
He also provided a running commentary, contesting the judge as he recounted events.
It was “all a load of rubbish”, he said.
His victim gave a statement at an earlier hearing describing the lingering impact of the assault.
The concussion continued to plague him and strained his family relationships, he said.
His attacker had behaved in an aggressive way at the premises previously, which had resulted in the trespass notice, he said.
“He has a complete disregard for others and society,” the man told the court.
Forde was given a ninemonth deferred sentence and ordered to pay $250 to the victim for emotional harm.
Judge Large said this might not seem like a significant amount but it would be difficult for Forde to pay.