Police get paedophile away from protesters

Taranaki Daily News

MARCHING ORDERS: A protest by Patea residents has led to police removing a convicted paedophile from the town.

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A convicted paedophile needed police help to get out of Patea after protesters surrounded his house.

Up to 100 protesters, including children, gathered in the small Taranaki town about 1pm yesterday to protest against the man living in their community.

It is understood the man, convicted of sex attacks on teenage boys, had just been freed on parole to serve the last six months of his sentence on home detention.

He was being housed by family and being monitored with an electronic bracelet.

A spokeswoman for the protest group, Patea community board member Liz Lambert, said they had found out two days ago that the man was living in Patea. Residents set up a 24-hour watch on the house where he was staying.

"We don't want him living here, living near children," she said.

The protest group marched through several streets until they reached the home where the man was staying. A short time later police arrived and got him out of the house.

Sergeant Jeremy Bull, of Hawera, said the man was put into the care of the probation service.

Ms Lambert said the group believed the community should have been told the man was living in the town.

Paedophiles should not have the right to choose where they lived, she said. "He has the right under New Zealand law, but we need to change the law."

- Taranaki Daily News