Caleb Bond: When will we wake up and realise paedophiles are not deserving of second chances?
A man who sexually abused young boys – and reoffended twice – is about to be released from jail. Serial paedophiles should be kept behind bars forever, writes Caleb Bond.
- Repeat sex offender Gary John Tipping to be released
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Another sex offender will soon be out in the community. When will we wake up and realise these people are not deserving of second chances?
Gary John Tipping has been granted home detention. He has repeatedly sexually abused young boys. A clinical psychiatrist also found Tipping was unwilling to control his sexual urges.
But Supreme Court judge Justice Trish Kelly refused an application to keep him behind bars. We don’t know why because the reasons behind the decision are yet to be released. But how about you be the judge based on what we know?
Tipping was first sentenced in 2006 for sexual offences against two boys, aged 12 and eight. Four years in prison with an 18-month non-parole period – but the sentence was suspended. Just months after being spared jail, he had unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old boy and was finally sent off to prison.
Then, in December 2010, he was released on parole. Within months, he had befriended a 15-year-old boy. I think you know what happened next.
Tipping was taken into custody in September 2012 for having sex with the teenager and was sentenced to six years and four months in prison in April 2015 – backdated to the time of his custody.
Now we get to August last year, when Attorney-General Vickie Chapman applied to keep Tipping locked up indefinitely or have him under constant supervision if released.
Days before his planned release in January, she made an emergency application to keep him behind bars. It was allowed to be heard and last month rejected. So, now that you know of his history and his reoffending, would you let him out of prison? Is this the kind of person who deserves a second chance?
There are some people who either don’t deserve to see the outside world or will pose a danger to innocent people. Tipping may well fit both of those categories.
Some crimes are unforgivable. Rape, murder and abuse of children are among them. We impose long sentences to punish these people for what they’ve done to others – but also to protect the rest of us from further damage.
When a psychiatrist gives evidence that a man is a risk to the community, particularly young men, I’m inclined to believe his advice.
We had the opportunity to lock up a repeat child-sex offender indefinitely and we blew it. How must the victims of Tipping and others like him feel when they see their abuser has been released into the community? How must their families feel?
It essentially puts these evil creatures on the same level – a member of the public.
Even if they’re on home detention, it sends a message that they are welcome in our society. Yes, prison can help to rehabilitate some criminals. And many people, if they show remorse, are worthy of a second chance.
But a consistent pattern of reoffending of such an awful crime coupled with a refusal to take steps to try and stop ought to be enough for the key to be thrown away.
There are good reasons why justice is not left in the hands of victims – but justice must at least be seen to be done. Sometimes, that means protecting the rest of us.
It was the same with Colin Humphrys, the serial paedophile who has served multiple prison sentences.
He was granted freedom to live in the Bowden/Brompton area by the Supreme Court – even though it acknowledged he was unwilling to control his sexual urges.
It rightly prompted public outrage and sent the State Government into a frenzy to pass laws preventing his release. The case is ongoing and those laws could also keep paedophile former magistrate Peter Liddy behind bars.
Tipping will be electronically monitored for five years, but who knows what will happen after that.
He should never have been allowed to taste freedom again.
I’m happy to help pay the $100,000 a year it costs to keep someone in prison if it means Tipping is kept locked up – because protecting the innocent is priceless.