Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland [2021] QSC 44
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland
[2021] QSC 44
PARTIES: ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
QUEENSLAND
(applicant)
v
HENDRIKUS JOSEF RUHLAND
(respondent)
FILE NO: BS No 10673 of 2009
DIVISION: Trial Division
PROCEEDING: Application
ORIGINATING
COURT:
Supreme Court at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON: Orders made on 26 February 2021, reasons delivered on
12 March 2021
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 26 February 2021
JUDGE: Davis J
ORDER: THE COURT being satisfied to the requisite standard that
the respondent, Hendrikus Josef Ruhland, has
contravened, and is likely to contravene, requirements of
the supervision order made by Justice Fryberg on 9 March
2010 and as amended by Justice Martin on 23 December
2010 and Justice Flanagan on 7 March 2016, ORDERS
THAT:
1. Pursuant to s 22(7) of the Dangerous Prisoner (Sexual
Offenders) Act 2003 (“the Act”),
(i) requirements (i) through to (xiv) of the supervision
order as made by Justice Fryberg on 9 March 2010
and as amended by Justice Martin on 23
December 2010 and Justice Flanagan on 7 March
2016, be deleted and replaced with the
requirements as set out in Schedule ‘A’;
(ii) the respondent be released from custody on
1 March 2021; and
(iii) the respondent be subjected to the supervision
order as amended by paragraph (i) herein, for a
period until 8 August 2023.
-- 1 of 16 --
2
2. FURTHER, IT IS DECLARED that pursuant to
s 24 of the Act, that the respondent’s supervision
order, made by Justice Fryberg on 9 March 2010
and as amended by Justice Martin on 23 December
2010 and Justice Flanagan on 7 March 2016, has
been extended by 160 days and that such extended
order will expire on 8 August 2023.
3. FURTHER, IT IS ORDERED that pursuant to
r 375 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 the
misnomer of the respondent be corrected by
directing this order and all further documents to be
filed name the respondent as “HENDRIKUS
JOSEF RUHLAND”, and that the party name on
the Court file be corrected accordingly.
4. The court document headings on all court
documents filed to date may remain in their
uncorrected form without the need to file amended
court documents.
CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – SENTENCE – SENTENCING ORDERS
– ORDERS AND DECLARATIONS RELATING TO
SERIOUS OR VIOLENT OFFENDERS OR DANGEROUS
SEXUAL OFFENDERS – DANGEROUS SEXUAL
OFFENDER – GENERALLY – where the respondent was
subject to a supervision order made on 9 March 2010 under the
provisions of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act
2003 (DPSOA) – where the supervision order had been
contravened in 2010 and the respondent released - where there
had been no contraventions of the supervision order until 28
February 2020 - where the contravention was not the
commission of a serious sexual offence - where the
contravention was not the commission of any sexual offence -
where the psychiatric evidence supported release on
supervision with an extension of the term of the supervision
order.
CRIMINAL LAW - SENTENCE - SENTENCING ORDERS
- ORDERS AND DECLARATIONS RELATING TO
SERIOUS OR VIOLENT OFFENDERS OR DANGEROUS
SEXUAL OFFENDERS - DANGEROUS SEXUAL
OFFENDER - GENERALLY - where the respondent is
subject to a supervision order - where, during the currency of
the supervision order, the respondent was held in custody for a
period - where the applicant seeks a declaration that the period
of the supervision order has been extended by force of ss 23
and 24 of the DPSOA by a period equivalent to the period
spent in custody - whether appropriate to make declarations.
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 13, s 16,
s 20, s 22, s 43AA
-- 2 of 16 --
3
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v KAH [2019]
3 Qd R 329, cited
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland
[2020] QSC 33, related
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland
(2020) 3 QR 449, related
R v Ruhland [1999] QCA 430, related
Attorney General for the State of Queensland v Downs [2014]
QSC 140, cited
COUNSEL: B Mumford for the applicant
K Juhasz for the respondent
SOLICITORS: GR Cooper, Crown Solicitor for the applicant
AW Bale & Son for the respondent
[1] Hendrikus Josef Ruhland was released from custody on 9 March 2010 after serving a
lengthy period of imprisonment for the commission of a number of serious sexual
offences against young boys. He was released subject to a supervision order made
under the provisions of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003
(DPSOA). The supervision order has since been amended.
[2] The Attorney-General alleged that Mr Ruhland contravened the supervision order and
was likely to contravene the supervision order in other respects.1 He was arrested
and the Attorney-General sought orders consequent upon the contravention and likely
contravention of the supervision order.
Background
[3] Mr Ruhland was born 9 July 1945. He is now 75 years of age.
[4] Mr Ruhland has reported to various psychiatrists over the years that he had been
sexually active with boys since 1965 when he was 20. At that time, he was a Scout
leader. He reported being involved in a paedophile ring in the 1980s and was charged
with various sexual offences against boys in 1985. Those charges did not result in
convictions. He was though, charged and convicted in 1988 and was sentenced to six
and a half years imprisonment for various sexual offences against boys. He was
released from prison in April 1992.
1 Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 20.
-- 3 of 16 --
4
[5] Mr Ruhland continued his sexual offending against children and in 1999 he was
convicted and sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment (the index offences). On appeal,
the sentences were reduced to 13 and a half years imprisonment.2
[6] The index offences were very serious. A summary of the offences was given by
White J (as her Honour then was), one of the majority in Mr Ruhland’s appeal:
“The first two counts related to two offences of indecent dealing with
a child under the age of 14 years between December 1976 and June
1977. The other offences occurred between April 1992 and
September 1996 and involved eight counts of maintaining a sexual
relationship with boys under the age of 16 (three with the aggravating
circumstance of anal carnal knowledge), twenty-one counts of
specific acts of indecent dealing, five counts of indecent treatment of
a child under the age of 12, five counts of unlawful anal intercourse
as well as forty-five acts of indecent dealing, one act of exposure of
a child to an indecent act, two acts of anal intercourse and nine acts
of permitting anal intercourse which were s 189 schedule offences
taken into account on sentence. There were 98 offences in all. The
conduct involved twelve boys between the ages of 10 and 15 although
the preponderance were aged around 12 to 13 years.”3
[7] Mr Ruhland’s offending occurred with others, namely Manning and Briggs. As
described by White J:
“At the time of the 1988 offences the applicant was associating with
one Manning who was a younger man of about 29 years who was also
convicted of offences against boys at about the same time. Manning
was released from prison earlier than the applicant and the applicant
went to live with him after his release. The applicant met one Neville
Briggs, a sex offender, in prison and he became sexually involved
with some of the present complainants. The prosecutor below used
the expression ‘paedophile ring’ when referring to these men. This
was objected to by defence counsel on the ground that such an
expression tended to be associated in the public’s mind with an
organised group who used the Internet and/or had international
connotations. That was not the case here, but however described, the
men used the same boys for sexual gratification and introduced them
to each other.”4
[8] The particulars of the offending were described by White J as:
“Manning’s house was a place where boys would congregate to watch
television and socialise. He and the accused subsequently moved to
other accommodation. It too became a place for boys to go who
2 R v Ruhland [1999] QCA 430, de Jersey CJ, Byrne and White JJ; de Jersey CJ dissenting.
3 Paragraph 12.
4 At paragraph 16.
-- 4 of 16 --
5
wanted to ‘wag’ school. Television, videos and video games as well
as the kind of food that adolescent boys like was readily available.
Many of the boys were introduced to the applicant by other boys who
came there knowing that the applicant ‘gave erotic massages’.
The sexual activities with the boys involved massaging, mutual
masturbation, mutual oral sex, anal sexual intercourse and permitting
boys to have anal sexual intercourse with the applicant. Sometimes
two or more boys participated in the sexual activity. On occasions the
applicant paid the boys money for sexual favours or gave them gifts.
Shortly after being released from prison Manning introduced the
applicant to the complainant PJ who was then aged 13. The
relationship continued until mid-1993 when PJ turned 15 after which
time he commenced a relationship with Briggs although on occasions
he continued to engage in sexual conduct with the applicant. The
offences involved massages, mutual masturbation and oral sex. On
some occasions other boys participated.
The complainant JB was introduced to the applicant by Manning. The
applicant maintained a sexual relationship with him from about April
1992 until mid-1993. He was aged between 13 and 15 years during
that period. The offences involved mutual masturbation and oral sex
and on some occasions other boys were present and participated in
the activities. That complainant said that the applicant told him that
he would go to the public toilets near the local school and ‘window
shop’ the boys when school was dismissed. JB would visit the
applicant regularly when ‘wagging’ school. Their relationship came
to an end when the applicant moved.
The complainant JB introduced the complainant IL to the applicant
shortly after he was released from prison. IL was told that the
applicant’s house was a good place to go and ‘wag’ school. The
applicant commenced a sexual relationship with IL which continued
until mid-March 1995. The boy was aged between 13 and 15. The
relationship began with massages and progressed to mutual oral sex,
masturbation and sodomy. At one point IL left his home and came to
live with the applicant who pretended that he was his son. He dealt
with the boy’s teachers at school and applied for and received
payments from the Department of Social Security for looking after
the boy. The applicant purchased a $1250 bicycle for IL and from
time to time this debt would be paid off by the complainant with
sexual favours. Anal sex took place on about twenty occasions.
The applicant met the complainant LB through his older brother JB
shortly after the applicant was released from prison. He maintained a
sexual relationship with him until the middle of the following year.
LB was 10 when the offences commenced. The indecent activity
involved massages, mutual oral sex and sometimes involved other
boys.
The complainant AS was introduced to the applicant by IL. Their
sexual relationship commenced in September 1993 when he was
-- 5 of 16 --
6
aged 12 continuing for about three years. The offences involved
mutual masturbation and oral sex and the applicant permitting AS to
have anal sex with him.
The applicant met SM at a public lavatory in Woodridge in January
1994. SM was then aged 12 years. They exchanged telephone
numbers and the same evening the applicant telephoned and invited
the boy home which he accepted. The applicant massaged SM,
engaged in mutual masturbation and oral sex with SM alone and with
other boys. For a time SM came to live in the applicant’s house.
The complainant RK met the applicant at the applicant’s home in
early 1995 when he gave a birthday party for IL. He was aged
between 13 and 14 when he first met the applicant. The sexual
relationship continued until September 1996. The offences involved
mutual masturbation, oral sex and sodomy. The applicant introduced
him to Briggs and Manning. On occasions the applicant paid RK for
the sexual encounters. For a period he resided with the applicant who
then received Department of Social Security payments for looking
after him.
The complainant GK was introduced to the applicant by a friend in
about mid-1996. That sexual relationship continued only for a few
months. He was aged 14 when the offences were committed. Indecent
activity took place regularly on weekends and involved massage,
masturbation and oral sex. One occasion involved the applicant,
Manning and the complainant in the spa together when indecent
touching occurred.
The complainant RW met the applicant through other boys who
visited the house. He was aged 11 when an act of oral sex occurred
in the presence of the next complainant FC. That complainant was
about 11 when the applicant performed oral sex on him in his
bedroom while others were present.
The final complainant, LD, was aged 15 at the time the applicant met
him through another boy. He gave him a massage and oral sex and
then about a month later another massage occurred involving oral
sex.”5
[9] Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mr Ruhland was not granted parole and towards the end of
his term of imprisonment, the Attorney-General made application for orders under
the DPSOA. On 9 March 2010, Mr Ruhland was released on a supervision order6 for
a period of 10 years. The supervision order contained a number of requirements,
including that Mr Ruhland:
“(xiv) not commit an offence of a sexual nature during the
period of the order and
5 At [19]-[30].
6 Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, ss 13(5)(b) and 16.
-- 6 of 16 --
7
(xv) comply with every reasonable direction of an authorised
corrective services officer
(xxxviii) obtain the prior written approval of an authorised
corrective services officer before possessing any
equipment that enables him to take photographs or record
moving images”
[10] Shortly after being released on supervision, Mr Ruhland breached the supervision
order by failing to comply with a direction of a corrective services officer. The breach
there was constituted by Mr Ruhland contacting other child sex offenders. In so
doing, Mr Ruhland breached requirement (xv). On 23 December 2010, the
contravention was found to be proved, but Mr Ruhland was released back onto the
supervision order with certain amendments which are not relevant here.
[11] It is an offence to breach a supervision order.7 Mr Ruhland was charged criminally
on that occasion with breaching the supervision order and spent 63 days in custody.
[12] On 28 February 2020, I declared that by force of s 24(2) of the DPSOA, the
supervision order had been extended by the 63 days Mr Ruhland had been in custody
and would now expire on 10 May 2020.8
[13] On 7 March 2016, Flanagan J varied the supervision order but neither the
circumstances of that being done nor the terms of the amendment are relevant for
present purposes.
[14] In Capalaba, there is a public toilet block in a shopping centre opposite the public
library. On 28 February 2020, Mr Ruhland wrote on the wall of the public toilet the
words “head today Friday 28-2-20 at library across the road 12-12.30 any age”. This
has been interpreted as an invitation by Mr Ruhland to perform oral sex on any male
person, including a minor who might accept the offer. About 12.15 pm on 28
February 2020, a male person was seen to leave the toilet area and get into a car
registered to Mr Ruhland.
[15] Mr Ruhland was convicted on 5 March 2020 of an offence of wilful damage to the
toilet block. Proceedings upon the contravention of the supervision order were
commenced. He was detained until the finalisation of those proceedings. However,
7 Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 43AA.
8 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland [2020] QSC 33.
-- 7 of 16 --
8
his supervision order was to expire on 10 May 2020 so an interim detention order was
made.9
[16] An application was filed by the Attorney-General alleging:
1. a likely contravention of requirement (xiv) - “not commit an offence of a sexual
nature during the period of the order”;
2. an actual contravention of requirement (xxxviii) - “obtain the prior written
approval of an authorised corrective services officer before possessing any
equipment that enables him to take photographs or record moving images”.
[17] Section 20 of the DPSOA, relevantly, is as follows:
“20 Warrant for released prisoner suspected of contravening a
supervision order or interim supervision order
(1) This section applies if a police officer or corrective
services officer reasonably suspects a released prisoner is
likely to contravene, is contravening, or has contravened,
a requirement of the released prisoner’s supervision order
or interim supervision order.
(2) The officer may, by a complaint to a magistrate, apply for
a warrant for the arrest of the released prisoner directed
to all police officers and corrective services officers to
arrest the released prisoner and bring the released
prisoner before the Supreme Court to be dealt with
according to law.
(3) The magistrate must issue the warrant, in the approved
form, if the magistrate is satisfied the grounds for issuing
the warrant exist.
(4) However, the warrant may be issued only if the complaint
is under oath.
(6) The warrant may state the suspected contravention in
general terms.
(7) If the magistrate issues a warrant under subsection (3),
the commissioner of the police service or the chief
executive must give a copy of the warrant to the Attorney-
General within 24 hours after the warrant is issued.
(8) The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000,
sections 800 to 802, apply to the application for the
warrant—
9 Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 21(2)(a).
-- 8 of 16 --
9
(a) as if the warrant were a prescribed authority, within
the meaning of section 800 of that Act, that could
be obtained under that Act; and
(b) if the application is made by a corrective services
officer, as if the corrective services officer were a
police officer.
Note—
The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, sections 800
to 802 provide for obtaining prescribed authorities by phone, fax,
radio, email or another similar facility.
(9) To remove any doubt, it is declared that a failure by the
commissioner of the police service or the chief executive
to comply with subsection (7) does not affect the court’s
ability to make a further order under section 22.”
[18] It can be seen that by s 20, proceedings may be commenced by warrant when there is
reasonable suspicion of “a contravention” or reasonable suspicion of a “likely
contravention” of the supervision order.
[19] Here, the reference in the graffiti to “any age” gave rise to a reasonable suspicion in
the person swearing the complaint10 that Mr Ruhland was likely to commit a sexual
offence against a boy. That was said to support a reasonable suspicion of a likely
contravention of requirement (xiv).
[20] Evidence was obtained that Mr Ruhland had, at some stage, possession of a camera
owned by Mr Ruhland’s partner. Possession of a camera was an actual breach of
requirement (xxxviii) as no prior approval had been given.
[21] Section 22 concerns the hearing of the contravention proceedings commenced
pursuant to s 20. Section 22, relevantly, provides:
“22 Court may make further order
(1) The following subsections apply if the court is satisfied,
on the balance of probabilities, that the released prisoner
is likely to contravene, is contravening, or has
contravened, a requirement of the supervision order or
interim supervision order (each the existing order).
(2) Unless the released prisoner satisfies the court, on the
balance of probabilities, that the adequate protection of
the community can, despite the contravention or likely
contravention of the existing order, be ensured by the
10 Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 20(2).
-- 9 of 16 --
10
existing order as amended under subsection (7), the court
must—
(a) if the existing order is a supervision order, rescind
it and make a continuing detention order; or
(b) if the existing order is an interim supervision order,
rescind it and make an order that the released
prisoner be detained in custody for the period
stated in the order. …
(7) If the released prisoner satisfies the court, on the balance
of probabilities, that the adequate protection of the
community can, despite the contravention or likely
contravention of the existing order, be ensured by a
supervision order or interim supervision order, the
court—
(a) must amend the existing order to include all of the
requirements under section 16(1) if the order does
not already include all of those requirements; and
(b) may otherwise amend the existing order in a way
the court considers appropriate—
(i) to ensure adequate protection of the
community; or
(ii) for the prisoner’s rehabilitation or care or
treatment.
(8) The existing order may not be amended under subsection
(7)(b) so as to remove any requirements mentioned in
section 16(1).”
[22] By s 22, before orders can be made consequent upon a contravention, the court must
find that the prisoner either contravened or is likely to contravene the supervision
order. The determination of likelihood to contravene is assessed at the time of the
hearing pursuant to s 22.11
[23] Here, the Attorney-General, properly in my view, conceded that on the psychiatric
evidence, Mr Ruhland is not now likely to commit a sexual offence against a child.
Therefore, an amended application was filed alleging only the contravention of
requirement (xxxviii) constituted by Mr Ruhland having possession of his partner’s
camera. The allegation of a likely breach of requirement (xiv) was abandoned.
11 Attorney General for the State of Queensland v Downs [2014] QSC 140 at [32].
-- 10 of 16 --
11
[24] Mr Ruhland admitted the breach. In the meantime, he was charged with wilful
damage, pleaded guilty to that offence in the Magistrates Court and was sentenced to
four months’ imprisonment. Parole was set on 14 April 2020.
[25] On 17 November 2020, Mr Ruhland pleaded guilty to a charge under s 43AA of the
DPSOA. He was sentenced to a further three months’ imprisonment but his parole
release date was set on the date of his sentence.
[26] For the purposes of the contravention proceedings, Mr Ruhland was interviewed by
forensics psychiatrists, Doctors Sundin and Harden who both prepared reports.
Neither was required for cross-examination at the hearing.
Psychiatric evidence
[27] Apart from the breach of the supervision order in 2010, Mr Ruhland had been on
supervision in the community without breach for well over nine years before the
current incident. He explained to his case manager and to both psychiatrists that he
was having difficulties in a long-term homosexual relationship. This seems to have
destabilised him.
[28] Dr Sundin diagnosed Mr Ruhland as follows:
“In my opinion, Mr Ruhland meets DSM-V diagnostic criteria for
Paedophilic Disorder - sexually attracted to males, non-exclusive
type.
His recent pattern has demonstrated both avoidant and dependent
personality traits.
There was no evidence of any co-morbid mood disturbance,
psychotic disorder or substance use disorder.”
[29] As to risk, Dr Sundin opined:
“In my opinion, the principal difficulty with Mr Ruhland is his pattern
of avoidance and deceptiveness.
He is an intelligent man who has been on a supervision order for a
lengthy period of time. He is very well aware of the compliance
requirements with respect to that supervision order. He is very well
aware that issues pertaining to sexuality are of particular relevance
and that it was expected that such matters should be discussed with
his psychologist and his case manager.
-- 11 of 16 --
12
The concern on this occasion is that Mr Ruhland’s behaviour was
offence paralleling to earlier behaviours when he sought out
adolescent males in toilets.
Despite his denials that he has not held any sexual fantasises
regarding underage males for many years, his behaviour suggests that
he remains conflicted around matters to do with sexuality and
intimacy.
Given his past searches for comfort and succour through sexual
contacts with adolescent males, I consider this most recent breach,
set as it was in the context of volatile hostile co-dependent
relationship with his partner; cannot be ignored.
In my opinion, Mr Ruhland’s global risk for sexual offending is
moderate; based on historical factors, past breaches and this recent
deceptiveness. ·The presence of a supervision order reduces his risk
to low.
Although Mr Ruhland is at an age where one expects his risk for
sexual recidivism is reduced by age and waning libido; I am not
sufficiently comfortable with his risk profile to recommend that he
be allowed to come off a supervision order. Rather, I recommend that
his supervision order be extended for a further two to three years and
that during that time he continue to see his psychologist at least
monthly on his own and that he and his partner agree to attend joint
counselling sessions to address the problematic aspects of that
relationship. I would request that Mr Ruhland’s partner voluntarily
agree that their joint counsellor is given permission to provide a
report of their progress in counselling both to Mr Ruhland’s
individual psychologist and to QCS12, given that the instability and
volatility of that relationship appears to have been a significant risk
factor and relevant to Mr Ruhland’s most recent offence.
There do not need to be clauses in relation to abstinence from drugs
or alcohol or a requirement for breath testing or urinary drug
screening.
Exclusion zones should remain in place as should disclosure
requirements.” (emphasis added)
[30] Dr Harden’s diagnosis was:
“He meets criteria for Pedophilia sexually attracted to males -
nonexclusive type. He does not meet criteria for a diagnosis of
Personality Disorder. He has some narcissistic and obsessive-
compulsive personality traits that continue to be present but in a
reduced form.”
[31] As to risk, Dr Harden opined:
12 Reference to Queensland Corrective Services.
-- 12 of 16 --
13
“At the time of this report in my opinion his risk of sexual offence
recidivism compared to other sexual offenders is in the low -
moderate (below average) range without a supervision order. The
average five year recidivism rate for sexual offenders is
approximately 15%. His chances of sexual reoffending are still
probably below that.
This is slightly increased compared to my previous assessment based
on the events of March 2020.
With a supervision order it is in the low (well below average) range.”
(emphasis added)
[32] Dr Harden, like Dr Sundin, thought the supervision order ought to be extended. He
said:
“In my opinion an abundance of caution would suggest further time
on a supervision order to provide the external structure and
scaffolding to keep the risk of sexual offence in the low range. This
could be for as little as two years depending on legal constraints.”
Consideration
[33] Section 13 of the DPSOA concerns the making of initial orders. It is a pivotal
provision. It provides, relevantly:
“13 Division 3 orders
(1) This section applies if, on the hearing of an application
for a division 3 order, the court is satisfied the prisoner is
a serious danger to the community in the absence of a
division 3 order (a serious danger to the community).
(2) A prisoner is a serious danger to the community as
mentioned in subsection (1) if there is an unacceptable
risk that the prisoner will commit a serious sexual
offence—
(a) if the prisoner is released from custody; or
(b) if the prisoner is released from custody without a
supervision order being made.
(3) On hearing the application, the court may decide that it is
satisfied as required under subsection (1) only if it is
satisfied—
(a) by acceptable, cogent evidence; and
(b) to a high degree of probability;
that the evidence is of sufficient weight to justify the
decision. …
-- 13 of 16 --
14
(5) If the court is satisfied as required under subsection (1),
the court may order—
(a) that the prisoner be detained in custody for an
indefinite term for control, care or treatment
(continuing detention order); or
(b) that the prisoner be released from custody subject
to the requirements it considers appropriate that are
stated in the order (supervision order).
(6) In deciding whether to make an order under subsection
(5)(a) or (b)—
(a) the paramount consideration is to be the need to
ensure adequate protection of the community; and
(b) the court must consider whether—
(i) adequate protection of the community can be
reasonably and practicably managed by a
supervision order; and
(ii) requirements under section 16 can be
reasonably and practicably managed by
corrective services officers.
(7) The Attorney-General has the onus of proving that a
prisoner is a serious danger to the community as
mentioned in subsection (1).”
[34] The relevant risk for the purposes of s 13 is the risk of commission of a “serious
sexual offence” defined, relevantly to Mr Ruhland, as “an offence of a sexual nature
… against children”. An order will be made under s 13 where there is an unacceptable
risk of the commission of “serious sexual offence” in the absence of an order. That
order may be a continuing detention order or a supervision order, but in determining
which order to make the paramount consideration is to ensure the adequate protection
of the public.
[35] Section 22 incorporates many of the concepts within s 13. Once a breach of the
supervision order is established (here it is admitted), the onus falls upon the prisoner
to establish that the adequate protection of the public can be ensured by his release
upon the supervision order either in its original form or as amended. The relevant
risk is not of general offending or even sexual offending, but of commission of a
serious sexual offence.
[36] Here, the psychiatric evidence is that Mr Ruhland’s risk on supervision is low. I
accept that evidence.
-- 14 of 16 --
15
[37] Mr Ruhland’s supervision order contained requirements that he abstain from alcohol
and illicit drugs and that he submit to testing. Dr Sundin’s opinion is that those
requirements are unnecessary. I accept that evidence. Drugs and alcohol appear not
to be risk factors. The supervision order should be amended to delete that
requirement.
[38] The incident at Capalaba shows a lack of stability in Mr Ruhland which he manifested
in an extreme and somewhat bizarre effort to connect sexually with a stranger.
Unsurprisingly, both psychiatrists opined that the supervision order should be
extended. The supervision order ought to expire at that time when Mr Ruhland is no
longer an unacceptable risk of committing a serious sexual offence if not subject to
the supervision order.13
[39] Dr Sundin opined that point will be reached in two to three years, Dr Harden, two.
As earlier observed, there was no cross-examination of the doctors. There was no
attempt to resolve the difference of opinion as to the period of extension. The
extension of the order adversely affects Mr Ruhland’s freedoms and rights. Over any
extended period, he will be subject to the exercise of rights vested in corrective
services officers who control his conduct. He is at risk of criminal penalty for failing
to comply. In those circumstances, I should adopt Dr Harden’s opinion rather than
Dr Sundin’s and extend the supervision order for two, not three, years.
[40] Since the making of the supervision order in 2010, attempts have been made to draft
supervision orders in what can be described as plain English. Mr Ruhland’s
supervision order has effectively been re-drafted in plain English and that version will
be the one that I will apply to him.
[41] Sections 23 and 24 of the DPSOA provide:
“23 Application of division
This division applies if, after being released from custody under
a supervision order or interim supervision order, a released
prisoner is sentenced to a term or period of imprisonment for
any offence, other than an offence of a sexual nature.
13 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v KAH [2019] 3 Qd R 329.
-- 15 of 16 --
16
24 Period in custody not counted
(1) The released prisoner’s supervision order or interim
supervision order is suspended for any period the released
prisoner is detained in custody on remand or serving the
term of imprisonment.
(2) The period for which the released prisoner’s supervision
order or interim supervision order has effect as stated in
the order is extended by any period the released prisoner
is detained in custody.”
[42] The supervision order was to expire on 10 May 2010. That date was declared to be
the date of expiry taking into account the 63 days Mr Ruhland spent in custody in
2010 after initially being released on supervision.14 He has since spent 160 days in
custody as a result of the current contraventions. Adding 160 days to the expiry date
of the supervision order gives 8 August 2021. With the extension to the supervision
order of two years, the order will now expire on 8 August 2023.
[43] There is no contest between the parties as to the effect of s 24 of the DPSOA on
Mr Ruhland’s supervision order. Despite the fact that there is no dispute between the
parties, it is appropriate to declare the effect of s 24 for the reasons I explained in
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland.15
[44] In court documents up to the present, Mr Ruhland’s first Christian name has been
spelt “Hendricus”. In fact, his name is spelt “Hendrikus”. It was appropriate to make
orders correcting that error but without requiring the amendment of the many
documents which have been filed in Mr Ruhland’s case.
[45] For those reasons, I made the orders which I did.
14 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Ruhland [2020] QSC 33.
15 (2020) 3 QR 449.
-- 16 of 16 --
Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2021/044