Lake Macquarie Cr Kevin Baker calls for Milton Orkopoulos to be back behind bars after charges
A Lake Macquarie councillor said Milton Orkopoulos was ‘not fit to be released’ and should be back in jail for his horrific crimes against children.
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A Lake Macquarie councillor said the fact convicted paedophile Milton Orkopoulos was charged just a month on from being let out of jail, shows he’s not fit to be released and should be back behind bars.
The former Lake Macquarie councillor and NSW Labor minister — who is on parole after an 11-year stint behind bars for child sex offences in the Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie regions between 1995 and 2006 — was arrested in Sydney on Wednesday morning.
The 62-year-old was charged with two counts of failure to comply with reporting obligations before appearing at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday afternoon where his strict conditional bail was continued and the matter adjourned until next month.
His arrest followed an inspection of his home by specialist officers last week, where police allege he had failed to report changed personal information as per his obligations for a court order.
Cr. Kevin Baker questioned what Orkopoulos was trying to hide.
“It is incredibly concerning to hear,” Cr. Baker said.
“Orkopoulos is a danger to our community, and his parole should be revoked immediately.”
Orkopoulos walked free from Long Bay prison in December last year after the State Parole Authority granted his conditional release in time for Christmas.
The former disgraced Swansea MP has been forced to wear an ankle monitor and is banned from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle where many of his crimes took place.
“I was bitterly disappointed that he had been released,” Cr Baker added.
“It just shows the concerns raised by the community, myself, and the commissioner were well founded.
“He is not suitable to be in the community.”
On Wednesday morning, before his court appearance at Waverley, Orkopoulos spoke to the Daily Telegraph about his original offences saying he was beyond embarrassed and “it was a daily shame”.
In response, Cr. Baker said he hoped that he lived with the shame of his crimes forever.
“His victims and their families will certainly live with the scars that his horrific crimes inflicted,” he said.
The State Parole Authority will reconvene next month to decide whether his parole will be revoked.