Milton Orkopoulos: paedophile ex-MP could be free in just weeks
Convicted paedophile and former MP Milton Orkopoulos was before the parole board on Friday where it was heard he had resorted to drug taking in prison. However, he could be back in the community before Christmas.
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Convicted paedophile and disgraced former state government minister Milton Orkopoulos only gained insight into his crimes after he was sexually assaulted himself in prison, reports reveal.
The shocking details emerged as Orkopoulos was told he could be home by Christmas after the State Parole Authority heard his latest application on Friday.
The 62-year-old appeared via video link before the hearing with greying hair and deep lines on his forehead having spent more than a decade in custody since his explosive charges were revealed in 2006, while he was a minister in the former Iemma Labor government.
The State Parole Authority decision will be handed down in December.
Psychological and prison reports obtained by The Daily Telegraph give an insight into the “twisted” sex offender’s mind.
He believed he had more to lose than his victims and was never going to be exposed even as his wife warned his drug use “will bring us to ruin”.
“Mr Orkopoulos was of the thought (his offending) would never be exposed,” one report says, adding he felt he had “more to lose” than his victims.
“Mr Orkopoulos described himself as emotionally ‘twisted’ and that his vice was cannabis... (he) believed that it was sexual curiosity while ‘stoned’ that led the victim to sexually engage with him.”
The former MP for Swansea and former Lake Macquarie local councillor said his now ex wife was aware of his cannabis use but it was “something she had always warned him against and stated ‘this would bring us to ruin’,” the report says.
He repeatedly protested his innocence and was pushing to clear his name in a retrial as recently as 2017, the reports revealed.
A prerelease report said Orkopoulos believed he was the real victim and was unable to express empathy as a result.
“He stated he was denied the presumption of innocence, as he believes he was set up by the police and the victims in what he described as a ‘political trial’.”
However, in a troubling twist of fate Orkopoulos gained insight into his crimes after he was sexually assaulted by another prisoner.
“It provided him with an opportunity to examine what it means being a victim and also his disappointment in how he responded to the incident,” the report says.
The former Lake Macquarie councillor preyed on young boys between 1995 and 2006 who were introduced to him through his role as a politician, plying them with cannabis, alcohol and heroin to win their trust.
Orkopoulos was sentenced in 2008 for 30 offences including seven counts of sexual intercourse with a person between 10 and 18, 18 counts of suppling cannabis and heroin, and one of rape and possessing child pornography.
According to a report tabled by the State Parole Authority – and obtained by The Daily Telegraph – Orkopoulos had reverted to using drugs while behind bars at Long Bay, failing three prescribed drug tests most recently for the opioid buprenorphine on February 21.
The report states Orkopulos admitted to using drugs “intermittently” but “no more than once per month since December 2018” and recognised his use was a return to the “maladaptive coping strategies” he relied on before his incarceration.
“Noting the integral role that the offender’s substance abuse played in his offending, it is of further concern that the offender recently reverted to non-prescribed drug use in custody to manage his emotions and stress,” it states.
“To this end, it is noted that general self-regulation has been identified as one of the offender’s dynamic risk factors.”
His capability of committing serious sexual offending over a prolonged period while “maintaining a facade of being a law-abiding, esteemed member of the community” is another major concern, the report states.
A continued denial of some aspects of his offending showed “limited insight into his conduct”, it states.
Orkopoulos’ defence Omar Juweinat conceded before the parole board his client had found himself in a “spot of bother” while in custody, but argued his actions were “nothing that caused a great deal of disquiet” with the parole authority.
“This is an applicant who has been able to demonstrate a great deal of rehabilitation while in a custodial setting,” Mr Juweinat said.
“It would be well and truly within the public interest, and the interest of the applicant, that parole be granted.”
Mr Juweinat said the idea of wearing an electronic tracking devise as part of his release conditions was “not something wholeheartedly embraced” by his client, but that Orkopoulos would comply.
Parole authority chair Justice James Wood told the court the board would reserve its judgment, which would likely be handed down on December 6.
“In light of the public interest it does need to be a considered judgment that we will reserve to that day,” he said.
The ex-Swansea MP was handed a maximum prison sentence of 13 years and eight months with a non-parole period of nine years.
He has been eligible for parole since 2017, with the State Parole Authority last month revealing its intention to grant his strict conditional release noting his rehabilitation pathways were now “largely complete”.
“As part of its deliberations SPA will consider a report from the Serious Offenders
Review Council (SORC) which recommended releasing the offender to supervised
parole with conditions, stating it was appropriate,” State Parole Authority (SPA) said in a statement.
“SORC considered the possibility that Orkopoulos could serve his entire sentence in
custody resulting in release without any supervision or conditions imposed and
concluded: ‘That outcome is the worst for the protection of the public.’
“A Community Corrections report also recommending release to parole stated the
offender could be managed safely in the community, where his conditions would
include electronic monitoring and complying with ongoing treatment programs.
“The court heard confirmation Orkopoulos would submit to electronic monitoring if
released.”
Orkopoulos’ sentence is set to expire on October 18, 2021.
“Noting the Sentencing Judge found that the offences were ‘very serious’ his honour made a finding of special circumstances,” Mr Juweinat said.
“It was otherwise determined that there should be a period of supervision. There is now approximately one year and 10 months left as the balance of his sentence, and it simply cannot be in the interests of the community, nor the interests of the applicant that his release to parole be delayed any further.
“To do so would be to undermine the public confidence in the authority and would also work against promoting the rehabilitation of the applicant.”
His prerelease report notes his high profile in the media and desire to return to his native Newcastle will pose challenges to reintegration upon release.
His old employers at Lake Macquarie Council won’t welcome him back to the relatively small community where he made his mark as a politician.
“It is important for council to make clear that we do not accept these heinous crimes,” an October notice of motion from Cr Kevin Baker reads.
Council CEO Morven Cameron sent the notice of motion to Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin last month calling on authorities not to release Orkopoulos.