Brendan Paul HENSON 3/5/2022

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Brendan Paul HENSON  

Hearing: 3 May 2022

at Whanganui Prison via MS Teams

Members of the Board: Judge C Blackie – Panel Convenor

Ms K Coutts

Mr A Spierling

Counsel:                                            Ms D Goodlet

In Attendance:                                  [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons:                            [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Brendan Paul Henson appeared again before the Parole Board on 3 May 2022.
  2. Mr Henson is serving a sentence of eight years’ imprisonment (with five years minimum non-parole) following convictions on charges of indecent assault and abduction for sex.
  3. His sentence commencement date was 8 July 2016 and his sentence end date is 17 February 2024.
  4. Currently, Mr Henson has a security classification of minimum and a RoC*RoI of .10104.
  5. Mr Henson made his first appearance before the Parole Board on 3 March 2021.  At that stage, it was noted that he was of medium to high risk of sexually re-offending and needed to undergo either one-to-one treatment with a psychologist or to attend the ASOTP at the Kia Marama Unit.  He had no release plan.
  6. His most recent parole assessment report expresses the view that Mr Henson remains a significant risk of harm to young girls, but that said, he is now agreeable to attend individual treatment with a psychologist so as to avoid, if he can, group therapy such as offered by the CSOTP.
  7. The psychological treatment is due to commence in mid-2022.  Although it is not the most preferred treatment pathway and does not have the degree of intensity that might apply to the CSOTP, nevertheless, it is considered the most appropriate way ahead as far as Mr Henson is concerned.
  8. Parole was not sought today.  Mr Henson was represented by counsel, Ms Goodlet, who in her helpful submissions accepted that further time is required for Mr Henson to complete the treatment and also to be in a position to present to a future Board a comprehensive relapse prevention and safety plan.  The first step will be to find an appropriate address.
  9. Accordingly, as Mr Henson remains an almost untreated prisoner, he has to be considered an undue risk to the community and parole is formally declined.  He will be seen again within 12 months, that is by the end of May 2023.

Judge C Blackie

Panel Convenor