Repeat child sex offender Gary John Tipping allowed to invite young male prisoner to be his bunk mate

A repeat child sex offender was allowed to invite a “very young looking” male prisoner to be his bunk mate, the Supreme Court has heard.

A repeat child sex offender was allowed to invite a 20-year-old “very young looking” male prisoner to be his cell mate at a prison.

Gary John Tipping, 33, was serving a sentence of more than six years for abusing a 15-year-old boy when he developed an inappropriate relationship with the 20-year-old prisoner.

The situation came to light during court an application by the Attorney-General to keep Tipping permanently detained because he was unwilling to control his sexual desires.

Tipping has served prison sentences for abusing four boys between the ages of eight and 15 years old, often only months after being released from prison.

Justice Trish Kelly heard that Tipping was serving his sentence in Mount Gambier Prison when the younger man, who he had met before, was transferred there.

Tipping was sharing a 10-prisoner cottage with other men but somehow managed to get the younger man as his bunkmate.

Tipping said that the younger man had “gone through the same thing as me”.

The nature of the relationship was not discussed in court, however the younger man was known to be HIV positive and Tipping requested a HIV test after meeting the man.

At the time he told prison authorities that he had shared food with the man and was concerned he would have contracted the virus.

Gary Tipping was serving a sentence of more than six years for abusing a 15-year-old boy when he developed an inappropriate relationship with the 20-year-old prisoner

Psychiatrist Dr Narain Nambiar gave evidence that the relationship was concerning and had parallels to his offending against underage victims.

Dr Nambiar said the prisoner’s lack of awareness as to the similarity was cause for concern and that he should have notified his psychiatrist of the development.

Garen Truscott, acting for Tipping asked Dr Nambiar whether there could be an innocent explanation for the relationship.

“In a person who is innocent yes, but Mr Tipping is not innocent,” Dr Nambiar required.

Mr Truscott queried the expert witness about whether it was “fair” that Tipping was required to tell his psychiatrist about all friendships.

“Isn’t it very unfair that he has to tell people every time he makes a friend or interested in someone?” he said.

Dr Nambiar said that figuring out how Tipping made relationships was key to figuring out why he offended and whether he would continue to do so once released.

He concluded that Tipping posed a significant risk of reoffending, especially towards young men, if he were to be released into the community.

Justice Kelly will consider the applications before deciding whether Tipping will be released, permanently detained or supervised in the community.