Shannon Russell Swain, 36, is coming to the end of his 25-month prison sentence but at a hearing last month he appeared ‘‘more focused on his own comfort with little regard for the impact his offending has had on his victim’’, panel convener Carolina Tiumalu said.
Swain, who won the New Zealand Billiards and Snooker Association national snooker championships in 2022, said he would not transfer to another prison to undertake a specialist child-sex-offender programme and had proposed release to an address in Tapanui despite the victim’s wishes he remain outside the southern region.
The Invercargill District Court heard at sentencing the man had abused the victim at least six times between 2013 and 2018.
On one occasion, Swain groped her while they were in a vehicle with other people.
He pleaded guilty to a representative charge of doing an indecent act.
The Parole Board heard the Invercargill Prison inmate was in a minimum-security unit and had been assessed as an average to below average risk of further sex crimes.
Swain said he did not want to move to another jail to undertake rehabilitation because it would mean being away from his support people.
‘‘Mr Swain is still unable to explain why he offended against the victim but told the board he knew it was wrong,’’ Ms Tiumalu said.
It was previously indicated the sex offender would qualify for individual psychological treatment while in prison but that was no longer the case.
That would have to take place when Swain was released, the board heard.
‘‘Mr Swain has not yet commenced his rehabilitative pathway, nor has he developed a strong release proposal,’’ Ms Tiumalu said.
She suggested it was likely Swain would be barred from entering Otago and Southland and that he should plan accordingly.
The man will see the board again in October — a month before the expiry of his sentence.
