Longest-serving lag to stay in jail

New Zealand's longest-serving prisoner will have spent 45 years behind bars before he gets another chance at freedom.

Christchurch recidivist paedophile Alf Vincent, 71, was sentenced to preventive detention in 1968 after being convicted on seven charges of performing indecencies on five boys aged 12-14, including two brothers, over about a year. He had a string of indecency convictions spanning the previous five years but none of his convictions involved sexual violation, such as rape, sodomy or violence.

Last week, the Parole Board released its decision to postpone his next parole hearing for two years, meaning he could not seek freedom until 2011.

To date, Vincent has been incarcerated for almost 43 years, spending two-and-a-half years in prison on two separate child indecency charges before his preventive detention sentence was imposed in September 1968. He was one of the country's first preventive detainees. At today's cost of about $90,000 a year, his jail time has cost taxpayers about $3.9 million in 2009 dollars.

The only time Vincent spent outside jail over the past four decades was in the early 1980s, when he was given day passes to work in the community and also had weekend leaves over a few months, when he stayed with his father. However, all his leave was revoked in October 1984 when he was charged with preparing to commit a crime in a public place after he was seen talking with some young boys in a park and one put his arm around Vincent during one weekend leave.

The board said in its most recent decision Vincent was said to be "generally polite and compliant' in jail but continued to display inappropriate sexual behaviour. "He is working to reduce this and to develop respectful interactions with staff and fellow inmates. They are also continuing to work on a long term reintegration plan."

Vincent has lived in Rolleston Prison, near Christchurch, for almost all his incarceration. He has sought parole - and been declined - every year for the past 34 years. The board said Vincent enjoyed working in his prison unit's nursery and had acquired a considerable knowledge of plants and gardening methods. "He is content with his life. Realistically however, release is a long way off. Mr Vincent accepts that. At this stage, transfer to self care is not supported."

Vincent had asked to be released to live at the home of a current inmate and the man's mother, which was refused. The board noted a psychologist found Vincent was "destabilised" by his annual parole hearings so recommended a postponement. Normally a parole postponement order was for three years but the board agreed Vincent could reapply for parole in two years.

Vincent's lawyer told the board Vincent consented to the postponement because of concern he could "fall through the cracks and not receive the support he requires if he is not seen by the board for three years".

- © Fairfax NZ News