The victim of convicted pack rapist and former policeman Bob Schollum has called him "gutless and selfish" for refusing to face her in a restorative justice meeting.
Schollum has been granted parole after the Parole Board reviewed its decision to deny him parole earlier this year.
In a decision issued yesterday, the board said Schollum did not pose an "undue" risk to the community and would be released to live with his wife and her parents, at an unspecified date.
Schollum is serving a sentence of eight years after being convicted in July 2005 along with two other men of the pack rape and abduction of a 20-year-old Mount Maunganui woman in 1989.
Schollum was denied parole after a hearing in March when the Parole Board said he was still a risk to the community and had an arrogant view of his role in the pack rape of the woman. He asked for a review of the decision.
In its rehearing, the board said a psychologist's report assessed him as being of low risk of re-offending, he had a supportive marriage and social network, and had behaved impeccably in prison.
While Schollum continued to maintain he was wrongfully convicted, he remained ashamed and embarrassed about his behaviour, the board said.
The victim was keen to meet Schollum so he could acknowledge at least some of the damage to her from his and others' behaviour, despite his denial that he committed the offences.
Schollum had decided not to meet her, believing it would be unhelpful as he would be forced to defend himself against the victim's views, which would make things worse rather than better, he had told the board.
The woman told The Dominion Post yesterday she never wanted to attack him, just talk to him about the pain she had suffered, which would help put her life back together.
"It's very arrogant, selfish and really, really gutless (that he refused). As per the last 20 years, it's all about him. I knew I wouldn't get a confession, that's not what I wanted.
"Restorative justice stops broken lives ... it's about taking the power back. You don't get that anywhere else in the justice system," she said.
While he faced standard parole conditions which were to continue for the rest of his sentence, Schollum also faced a number of special conditions.
These include not communicating with his co-offenders or their victim, and that he not give any interviews about his trial, conviction, sentence, imprisonment, appeal or parole.
Schollum, his wife and supporters were prepared for the media interest in him, and were confident they could cope.
"We think that the years that have passed since this offence and his very stable family and married life since that time, together with his employment and the other information we have received from the many others who have taken the time to support his application for parole, confirm the view of the psychologist that he is at low risk of re-offending," the board said.
Schollum and his wife of 11 years have two children.
He had an administrative job available immediately, and his prospective employer accompanied him to the board hearing.
Last week former police officer and co-accused Brad Shipton was released from Wanganui prison after serving three years of an 8-1/2 year sentence for his part in the rape.
Co-accused Peter McNamara was released in January after serving a third of his seven-year sentence.
Schollum, Shipton and former police assistant commissioner Clint Rickards were cleared in 2006 of raping Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas in the 1980s.
