Butcher of Bega Graeme Reeves released on parole and avoids dozens of charges

DISGRACED former gynaecologist Graeme Reeves has been released on parole and dozens of charges against him have been dropped.

Graeme Reeves, the 'Butcher of Bega', was found guilty of removing Carolyn DeWaegeneire’s clitoris and genit...

DISGRACED former gynaecologist Graeme Reeves has been released on parole, with prosecutors confirming they have dropped dozens of charges against the doctor.

Reeves, who was found guilty of removing Carolyn DeWaegeneire's clitoris and genitals in 2002, was released from Long Bay jail on December 20 after a decision by the High Court of Australia two days earlier.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has elected not to pursue dozens of other charges against the former gynaecologist relating to other alleged victims.

Yesterday, Mrs DeWaegeneire told The Sunday Telegraph the decision left her feeling like "women are of no importance in this world".

Reeves was facing dozens of charges relating to the mutilation of women following an investigation by police operating under Strike Force Tarella.

"I'm flabbergasted … all the work of the taskforce over thousands of hours has come to nothing," Mrs DeWaegeneire said. "The powers that be have underestimated women.

"They always say hell hath no fury like a woman spurned."

She only found out the charges would not be pursued when contacted by the media.

In 2011 Reeves, 63, was found guilty of mutilating and indecently assaulting female patients between 2001 and 2003. He was sentenced to two years and six months in jail, with a one-year non-parole period that expired on May 31, 2013.

The DPP appealed against the sentence on the grounds of inadequacy and the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal increased the sentence by 18 months. Reeves appealed against that decision to the High Court, which quashed the sentence and ordered the Court of Criminal Appeal to hear the appeal again next year.

Reeves was released from jail because his original District Court sentence had expired, a spokesman for NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith said.

Reeves may return to jail after the matter is next heard in the CCA next year.

Mr Smith's spokesman said the DPP withdrew the charges after it found there was insufficient evidence to ensure a reasonable prospect of conviction. The spokesman also said Mr Smith had no authority to direct the DPP in relation to its prosecutorial functions.

One of Reeves' alleged victims, Marilyn Hawkins, 63, of Merimbula, said she was in a state of "disbelief" when The Sunday Telegraph told her of Reeves' situation yesterday.

Ms Hawkins saw Reeves in about 2002 for "a slight bladder problem" and allegedly "came out incontinent".

The Medical Error Action Group yesterday challenged the DPP to publicly explain why it had decided to abandon all the outstanding charges.