Denials mean very real ‘risk’ remains

HE MIGHT be a pensioner, but Stewart Murray Wilson’s continued denial of his crimes means he is still a very real risk to women, the police officer who led the case against him says.

However, a leading criminologist thinks the convicted sex offender’s age, notoriety, fear of returning to prison and bizarre circumstances surrounding much of his offending means he is not a threat.

Speaking publicly this week for the first time since he was convicted of a raft of horrific sex crimes in 1996, Stewart Murray Wilson said he maintained his ‘‘not guilty status’’ and refused to apologise to his victims.

Retired Blenheim detective Colin Mackay, who led the 18-month investigation into Wilson, said he was not surprised Wilson still denied the charges.

It showed he was still at risk of reoffending.

‘‘That [maintaining a not guilty status] tells me that he therefore believes it’s quite acceptable to do what he did because it wasn’t a crime.

‘‘One can only assume that he must be a substantial risk when he is released.’’

Canterbury University criminologist Professor Greg Newbold said many of Wilson’s victims chose to stick with him for many years, which might have created the impression his actions were acceptable.

Prof Newbold also speculated that some evidence in the case might have been untrue, which meant in Wilson’s mind he was not guilty of everything.

Regardless of his denial Wilson was very unlikely to reoffend because he was getting old, was well known to the public, and the situations surrounding his offending would be very difficult to recreate.