Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Downs [2014] QSC 140
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Downs
[2014] QSC 140
PARTIES: ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
QUEENSLAND
(applicant)
v
RONALD JAMES DOWNS
(respondent)
FILE NO/S: BSC 530 of 2008
DIVISION: Trial Division
PROCEEDING: Application
ORIGINATING
COURT: Supreme Court at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON: 20 June 2014
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 20 June 2014
JUDGE: Ann Lyons J
ORDER: The application for further orders pursuant to s 22 of the
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 is
dismissed.
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 released on a supervision order pursuant to
the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld)
in 2008 - where the respondent was subject to contravention
proceedings on the basis that it was reasonably suspected that
he was an unacceptable risk of contravening requirements of
his supervision order – where the applicant requested the
court make further orders pursuant to s 22 for the continuing
detention of the respondent – whether the respondent was
likely to, either at the time of the alleged contravention or at
the time of the final hearing, breach his supervision order
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 22
COUNSEL: B Mumford for the applicant
T Ryan for the respondent
SOLICITORS: Crown Law for the applicant
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Howden Saggers for the respondent
Background
[1] In 2008 the applicant sought orders that the respondent be subject to the Dangerous
Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (the “Act”). Mr Downs was examined by
three psychiatrists for the purposes of the original hearing namely Dr Robert Moyle,
Dr Josephine Sundin and Dr Michael Beech. At the time of that application in 2008
the respondent was 46 years old and had a lengthy criminal history. That history
included property and dishonesty offences over a 30 year period, as well as
convictions and sentences for offences of a sexual nature on three occasions:
(a) On 20 October 1980: The respondent was convicted and sentenced
to six months imprisonment for an offence of aggravated sexual
assault on a child under the age of 14 years. This offence occurred
when the respondent lifted a three year old male child whom he
knew from a pram and attempted or simulated intercourse with the
child.
(b) On 8 November 1999: The respondent pleaded guilty to six counts
of indecent dealing with a child under the age of 12 years. The child
was the daughter of a friend who was between 4 and 6 years old, and
involved conduct which included kissing the complainant on the lips,
having the complainant fondle his penis, playing with the
complainant’s vagina through her clothing, sucking her nipples and
licking on her vagina. The respondent was sentenced to two years’
imprisonment, with parole after nine months.
(c) On 14 November 2005: The respondent pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to a two and a half year term of imprisonment for the
unlawful carnal knowledge of a child under the age of 12 years.
[2] The report indicate that the respondent suffers from mild mental retardation and was
raised in a dysfunctional family with a drunken, violent father and was subjected
from a young age to sexual assault by an older brother. I note Daubney J’s reference
to the opinion of Dr Moyle in his reasons in the following terms:
“This 46 year old man has been intellectually disadvantaged all his
life, was exposed [precociously] to sexual misbehaviour and was
raised in a family where violent expression of emotions was seen as a
reasonable way of communication and where discontrol of one’s
urges to drink excessively was the norm.”
[3] The reporting psychiatrists noted that whilst in prison Mr Downs had completed a
sex offender program (ISOP). He received a good exit report from the ISOP
program which had been designed to meet the needs of the cognitively challenged.
Justice Daubney was satisfied that the respondent would be a serious danger to the
community in the absence of a Division 3 order. However he was satisfied that the
conditions proposed would ensure the “adequate protection of the community”
particularly as they would remain in place for 15 years.
[4] On 7 May 2008 Daubney J, having considered the reports and evidence of the
psychiatrists ordered that Mr Downs be released on a supervision order which
required him to submit to 37 conditions which included that:
(xi) he not commit an offence of a sexual nature during the period
of the order;
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(xii) he not commit an indictable offence during the period of the
order;
(xix) he abstain from the consumption of alcohol; and
(xxii) he not visit premises licensed to supply or serve alcohol,
without the prior written permission of the authorised
Corrective Services officer.
Dr Sundin’s evidence
[5] In the report prepared for the court in 2008, Dr Sundin diagnosed Mr Downs as
suffering from:
(a) paedophilia, sexually attracted to both, non-exclusive, not limited to
incest;
(b) mild mental retardation (IQ between 55 and 75);
(c) an antisocial personality disorder; and
(d) alcohol abuse in remission in a controlled environment.
[6] Dr Sundin noted that the major factor in the respondent’s favour was the fact that he
had been compliant with the institutional rules of prison and therefore might
similarly adapt to community orders. She considered however that his risk for future
sexual recidivism remained high. Dr Sundin indicated that if Mr Downs was to be
released into the community the orders would need to be highly regimented and she
recommended electronic monitoring for a substantial period of time after release.
She also indicated:
“Mr Downs will need very clear orders explained to him of the
expectations of his community behaviour and in particular the
prohibitions on his behaviour. These will need to be repeated to Mr
Downs on quite a number of occasions for him to understand them
and for him to begin to understand the need for compliance.”
Dr Beech
[7] Dr Beech considered that the respondent presented with limited intellectual capacity
and assessed him as suffering from mild mental retardation. He also considered that
the respondent suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a consequence of the
childhood sexual abuse he suffered. He also considered that he had an antisocial
personality disorder and rated highly on the personality traits of being cunning,
irresponsible, lacking empathy and being superficial. Dr Beech considered that the
respondent was a non-exclusive paedophile, attracted to females. He stated:
“His sexual offending should be seen in a light of four critical
factors. Firstly he has a very limited intellectual ability to critically
think about his behaviour, to control his urges and to learn ways to
cope. Secondly he suffers from a sexual deviance with an attraction
to young girls. Thirdly he has come through his childhood with very
distorted views about sexual relationships as a result of his own
abuse and as a result of his father’s coarse sexist teachings. Finally,
he is antisocial, again probably as a result of a highly prejudiced
childhood, and prone to lawbreaking and is dismissive of social
morals and rules.”
[8] Dr Beech considered that all of those factors meant treatment and management was
complex. He also noted that he had a limited capacity to accept his role and
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responsibility in the offending, particularly given his views that young women were
flirtatious and the instigators of sexual advances. Dr Beech was satisfied that if the
respondent was released into the community without supervision he would be a high
risk of reoffending sexually and that the offences would be of a similar nature
involving forming a relationship with a person who has a young female child and
positioning himself over time into a situation of confidence to allow him to prey on
children. However, Dr Beech considered that his risk of sexual reoffending would
be significantly reduced if he was closely monitored and limits were placed on him.
He considered that supervision should be strict given his history of breaches of bail
conditions in the past. With appropriate conditions Dr Beech thought the risk would
be reduced to moderate.
History since release
[9] Mr Downs was released in May 2008 and initially resided at the Wacol Precinct for
two years until accommodation was found for him in a house nearby close to the
railway station at Wacol. He had a number of supports in the community,
particularly from members of a church fellowship, who would visit him and check
on his living circumstances and how he was coping. He also had the support of his
brother and his brother’s wife. The respondent saw his psychologist Lars Madsen
regularly and he also had a good relationship with his case officer. It was noted that
he would regularly telephone his case officer for assistance particularly when he
was under stress or thinking bad thoughts. He was subject to a curfew of 10pm
whilst in the community.
The alleged contravention
[10] It is alleged that on 19 February 2014 the respondent breached the supervision order
because he confirmed with an officer of the High Risk Offender Management Unit
details of a conversation he had with another offender on 13 February 2014 in
which he expressed his desire to abduct a child and commit sexual offences against
that child. The Integrated Offender Management System notes record that Mr
Downs told an officer "He was so pissed off with everything going on with his
brother” he had had thoughts last week of “going stupid”. He stated he planned to
go to a hotel, get drunk, wait at the train station for a girl or whatever to come along
so he could take them to his house and “have a bloody good time with them”. He
said however that he did not follow through with that plan. On the basis of that
information the officer swore a Complaint and Arrest Warrant dated 19 February
2014 stating;
“Ronald Downs has expressed thoughts, described a plan, identified a
potential target and has the means to follow through with a sexual offence. On
this basis, I reasonably suspect that Ronald Downs is an unacceptable risk of
contravening conditions (xi), (xii), (xix) and (xx) of his supervision order
issued in the Supreme Court at Brisbane on 7 May 2008.”
[11] It would seem clear that on 13 February 2008 however that Mr Downs did not in
fact breach any of the conditions of his supervision order but rather went back to his
home and took out his frustrations on the washing. He subsequently stated that he
did not proceed with his plan because of what he had been previously told by his
psychiatrist, because he had a GPS monitor and because of the support people he
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had in his life. I also note that Mr Downs has not previously been the subject of
contravention proceedings in respect of his order.
[12] It would be apparent therefore that Mr Downs was subject to these contravention
proceedings on the basis that it was reasonably suspected that he was an
unacceptable risk of contravening requirements (xi), (xii), (xix) and (xx) of the
supervision order made in relation to him under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual
Offenders) Act 2003 (the Act) on 7 May 2008. It was not alleged that the respondent
had in fact contravened any of the requirements but rather was an “unacceptable
risk” of breaching the supervision order.
[13] The respondent has been detained in custody in relation to the alleged contravention
since 20 February 2014 which is a period of four months.
The requirements of s 22
[14] It would seem clear that a warrant for the arrest of the respondent was issued
pursuant to s 20 of the Act when the officer states he reasonably suspected that the
respondent had contravened a supervision order. Section 21 then required that he be
detained in custody until the decision of the court under s 22.
[15] Pursuant to s 22 the court must be 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. Section 22
provides as follows:
“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 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.
(3) For the purpose of deciding whether to make a continuing detention order as
mentioned in subsection (2)(a), the court may do any or all of the following—
(a) act on any evidence before it or that was before the court when the
existing order was made;
(b) make any order necessary to enable evidence of a kind mentioned in
section 13(4) to be brought before it, including, for example, an order—
(i) in the nature of a risk assessment order, subject to the restriction
under section 8(2); or
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(ii) for the revision of a report about the released prisoner produced
under section 8A;
(c) consider any further report or revised report in the nature of a report of a
type mentioned in section 8A.
(4) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the court need not make an order in the
nature of a risk assessment order if the court is satisfied that the evidence otherwise
available under subsection (3) is sufficient to make a decision under subsection
(2)(a).
(5) If the court makes an order in the nature of a risk assessment order, the
psychiatrist or each psychiatrist examining the released prisoner must prepare a
report about the released prisoner and, for that purpose, section 11 applies.
(6) For applying section 11 to the preparation of the report—
(a) section 11(2) applies with the necessary changes; and
(b) section 11(3) only applies to the extent that a report or information
mentioned in the subsection has not previously been given to the
psychiatrist.
(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).”
[16] If a breach is proven, the released prisoner must satisfy the court on the balance of
probabilities that despite the contravention or likely contravention of the existing
order the adequate protection of the community can be ensured by the existing order
or amended order. Unless that onus is satisfied 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.
[17] The question for the court therefore is whether the court is satisfied on the balance
of probabilities that the respondent “is likely to contravene a particular condition of
the supervision order.” The difficulty is that the section does not make it clear the
point in time the court is required to make that assessment.
[18] Doctors Beech and Sundin prepared further reports dated 24 March 2014 and 20
May 2014 respectively in which they fundamentally endorsed their previous reports
and discussed the alleged contravention.
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Submissions
[19] The applicant submits that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Mr Downs is
likely to contravene conditions (xi), (xii), (xix) and (xx) of the supervision order
imposed by Daubney J on 7 May 2008. In its supplementary outline, the applicant
submits that the Act contemplates taking action by through the issuing of a warrant
in the circumstances where a contravention is “likely”. In the circumstances of s 22
of the Act, the applicant submits that the term “likely” must mean “probable” or
“potential”. In this case, the applicant submits that the respondent has made a
statement of intent to get intoxicated and offend against a young female in response
to external stressors. In these circumstances, the applicant submits that a
contravention was likely as at 19 February 2014. The applicant considers that this is
relevant date for the assessment of the likely contravention, rather than at the time
of the final hearing.
[20] The respondent submits that at the present time, the opinions of the psychiatrists do
not establish, on the balance of probabilities, that Mr Downs is likely to contravene
conditions (xi), (xii), (xix) and (xx) of the supervision order. The respondent
submits that the court is to consider whether Mr Downs is likely to contravene his
supervision order at the time of the final hearing, rather than at the time that the
warrant was issued pursuant to s 20 of the Act. The respondent argues that while
there may exist the possibility of a contravention in the future, the mere existence of
that possibility does not make a contravention “likely” and consequently this
possibility does not satisfy the test within s 22(1) of the Act.
Dr Beech’s opinion
[21] Dr Beech noted the respondent’s mild intellectual impairment, his traumatic
childhood and the fact he suffered from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder. He
noted a significant criminal history with a range of offences that included fraud and
deceit. He also noted that Mr Downs had been an impulsive man during his life and
was prone to suffering adversely from stress and to acting out in sometimes a
reckless manner, or with significant emotional volatility. He stated that over time
there was evidence that this had settled and matured, probably in the context of
quite significant psychological therapy and the passage of years. Dr Beech noted the
history of sexual reoffending and Dr Madsen’s view that there were two periods of
sexual offending.
[22] He considered that Mr Downs suffers from paedophilia, although he has been able
to engage in adult relationships. He noted that there had been two victim types, one
type, who had been children placed in his care, with whom he has formed some sort
of relationship and used that as an opportunity to offend. The other type of victim
had been the result of more impulsive acts when he had approached people and
indecently assaulted them, or attempted to do so. These have been strangers off the
street. He considers that Mr Downs has “quite significant psychopathic traits”.
[23] Overall however Dr Beech considered that Mr Downs has done well on a
supervision order. Whilst there have been some breaches of the order, they have
been in relation to issues of impulsivity. He did not consider there had been any
significant contraventions since 2008 and considered that he had benefited from the
counselling and support that the order has facilitated. He considered that he had
used counselling appropriately and had been able to progress in the community. He
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considered he was able to live in a semi independent fashion. He had maintained an
association with church groups and had engaged in a variety of activities but had not
formed any intimate relationships. He considered that Mr Downs’ support system,
when called upon, seemed to be “tenuous”.
[24] Dr Beech considered that the current alleged contravention occurred in the context
of a significant stressor in that his brother who was another supervised sex offender
had been returned to custody. His brother and his brother’s partner were one of his
few and regular visitors. Dr Beech considered he was genuinely concerned about his
brother’s welfare particularly given there were thoughts that he had been assaulted
in the watch house. Dr Beech stated, “The material indicates that over time Mr
Downs became increasingly distressed by the circumstances. In my opinion, it is
likely that he then, in this stressful period returned to using sex as a form of coping.
As the stressors mounted his thoughts turned again to sexual activity and he
developed reckless thought of going to the railway station and abducting or coercing
or simply urging a female to return with him to his house.” He continued:
“I think at interview he tends to minimise the extent and nature of the
thinking that he had at that time. It is possible that Mr Downs though
did have those thoughts, acted appropriately to choose some of the
strategies he learned, and then reported them to his case officer in an
attempt to garner some praise. However, I am not ultimately
convinced that this was the most likely scenario and I have a
worrying concern that in fact that what Mr Downs reported was a
post hoc account of an aborted near miss offence. He has in the past
acted impulsively to attempt to abduct a child. It is likely that he does
have those thoughts and moments of distress. I think that it is quite
possible that he did set about walking towards the station with that in
mind but, to his credit, he brought himself up the driveway and
returned to the house. It is unclear but it seems that he may have
started to do it again on the following day but again held himself
back and returned to strategies that he had learned. I am concerned
that although he seems to have called up support persons he did not
follow through with this.
It is my opinion that in these moments of stress Mr Downs did go
back to old patterns of thinking and did return to thoughts about
using sex as a coping mechanism. I think that there was a period of
time when his risk of gaining victim access was mounting and the
risk of sexual offence had heightened.
Overall, though, I consider that his general trajectory has been a
positive one and that with the passage of time the risk has now
reduced again. I think that with appropriate supports in the
community including more frequent counselling sessions with Dr
Madsen and continuing oversight that the risk of further offences has
now reduced back to the level it was when he was released in 2008.
Ultimately it is my belief that without a supervision order Mr Downs
is in the group of people of high risk of reoffending. With
supervision and support this risk returns to moderate. However, case
officers, support persons and counsellors need to keep an eye on his
mental state so that timely interventions can be put in place if there is
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ever evidence that he is becoming increasingly stressed. I do not
think the risk of this occurring is imminent but more likely to follow
the pattern as it did this time with evidence of mounting concern.”
[25] Dr Beech considered that the use of a GPS monitor was important given that he was
still prone to impulsive urges and given his intellectual impairment has difficulties
processing information and solving problems.
Dr Sundin’s report
[26] Dr Sundin noted her previous report of 4 April 2008 where she considered that Mr
Downs had a high score on the HARE psychopathy scale but not such as would
attract a label of psychopath. She considered that overall on all the risk assessment
instruments the respondent represented an overall high risk for future sexual
recidivism. She noted that his mild mental retardation, his antisocial personality
disorder and a lack of reliability on self-reporting would pose difficulties for
Corrective Services in the management of him in the community.
[27] Dr Sundin also noted his history of impulsive acts in the past, a range of exploitative
behaviours as well as misogynistic attitudes that were voiced by him. She also
considered that if he were released into the community, he needed to be highly
regimented and that he needed clear curfew and electronic monitoring for a
substantial period of time after release, together with abstinence from alcohol. In
terms of his behaviour since he had been placed on a supervision order Dr Sundin
noted that Mr Downs had been in the community for a six year period and that he
had not sexually reoffended in that time. Dr Sundin considered that whilst there had
been some breaches of his order he has not engaged in any antisocial behaviours,
indictable offences or sexual offences. She also noted he had not abused alcohol or
other substances and had remained engaged with both the prison fellowship and
church organisations.
[28] Dr Sundin indicated that Mr Downs had continued to see his psychologist on a
regular basis and had not only achieved independent living but maintained it. Dr
Sundin considered that Mr Downs continued to maintain a moderate to high level of
sexual interest/sexual preoccupation. She also considered he had ongoing cognitive
distortions as to young females approaching him or others and asking for sex, and
that he had continued to access the internet for the purposes of viewing pornography
on a regular basis. Dr Sundin stated that the level of access and attention was
questionable and whilst it appeared that he accessed the material consistently, she
notes that he denies that he is masturbating to it, and that he maintains his interest is
only in adult sexual contacts.
[29] Dr Sundin also indicated that he was seeing his psychologist consistently and was
demonstrating evidence of positive impression management. He had participated in
a group sex offenders’ program but notes that Dr Madsen has expressed concerns
about the way in which Mr Downs had reverted back to his stance of victim
blaming and non-acceptance of responsibility for his actions. Dr Sundin stated that
Mr Downs has a sense of frustration with his curfew and his electronic monitoring
device, arguing he has been assaulted because he wears such a device and that it
interferes with his prospects of employment. Dr Sundin indicated that she was
mindful of Mr Downs’ ongoing cognitive distortions around sexual issues, his mild
mental retardation, his continued evidence of impulsive decision-making and
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continued evidence of positive impression management and a lack of reliable
accounting of his movements. She was encouraged by his engagement with church
and prison fellowship and his attendance with Dr Madsen.
[30] However, Dr Sundin indicated that she still had caution in relation to his safety
within the community and his persistent sexually deviant attitudes. She indicated
that Mr Downs had solidified his awareness that to substantively breach his order
will result in a return to jail. However, there was an absence of any appreciation of
the wrongness of his offending behaviour. Dr Sundin considered Mr Downs
manifested emotional disregulation and threatened to grab a girl/child and sexually
engage with them. She indicated this statement was made to at least two Corrective
Services officers but now maintains he made no such claim, and is insistent that
Corrective Services overreacted and misinterpreted what were the nine statements.
[31] In conclusion, Dr Sundin indicated she continued to be of the opinion that Mr
Downs represents an unacceptably high risk to the community were he to be
unsupervised. She considered all of the conditions put in place by Justice Daubney
needed to remain in place. She considered there needed to be the objective record of
his movements, given his inability to reliably give a report. She noted that the
greatest risk would be to children should he be put in some sort of caregiver role
and that the other issue was disinhibition arising from intoxication but noted that
that does not appear to have been a problem during the supervision period. Whilst
Dr Sundin would be prepared to reduce his curfew or lift the curfew hours, she was
reluctant to withdraw the GPS tracking device. She considered that this was a
“necessary contingency management strategy in an impulsive man vulnerable to
emotional disregulation, who engages in positive impression management and who
is unreliable in his self report of his movements”.
Conclusion
[32] In my view s 22 requires the court at the time of the hearing of the application to be
satisfied in relation to the issue of contravention. The question for the court is
whether at that point in time the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that
the respondent “is likely to contravene, is contravening or has contravened a
requirement of a supervision order”.
[33] In terms of whether the respondent is likely to contravene his supervision order in
the future, having considered the reports of Dr Beech and Dr Sundin and the
affidavits of Mr Smith and Mr Wilden, I am not satisfied on the balance of
probabilities that at this point in time the respondent is currently likely to
contravene a requirement of the supervision order.
[34] I note Dr Beech’s view that Mr Downs had progressed in the community and that
overall he has done well on the supervision order during the last six years. He
considered that he had matured, that he had benefitted from counselling and was
able to live in the community in a semi independent fashion despite his cognitive
difficulties. Dr Beech considered that when he was under stress Mr Downs had
resorted to his old ways of coping by using sex. It would seem clear however that
Mr Downs used the strategies he had been taught to overcome those issues and he
did not revert to offending behaviour.
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[35] I also note that Dr Sundin also considered that Mr Downs has not sexually
reoffended at all whilst he has been in the community for the last six years. Dr
Sundin however stressed the importance of a strict supervision regime and its
importance to Mr Downs. Significantly he has not used alcohol or other substances
and he is engaged with his psychologist, prison fellowship and church
organisations.
[36] In my view Mr Downs is not “likely” to contravene the supervision order because
the conditions imposed are appropriately managing the risk posed. If I am wrong in
this regard and s 22 requires the court to assess the question at the time Mr Downs
was arrested I am not satisfied that as at 19 February 2014 Mr Downs was “likely”
to contravene, was contravening or had contravened his supervision order, on the
balance of probabilities. It would seem to me that whilst Mr Downs experienced
thoughts of going to the hotel and getting drunk, and then going to the train station
to find someone to have sexual activity with, he did not in fact go to the pub or get
drunk and he did not go to the railway station. Whilst he walked out of his house
with the intention of walking towards the station, it would seem that the evidence
indicates he in fact stopped himself in the driveway, was able to control himself and
return to his house. He then took out his frustration by doing household chores. It is
clear that he did not approach the railway station.
[37] It would also seem clear that after that he returned to his residence and the next day
called his case officer to tell her that he felt stressed and that he had had those
thoughts. During the following week he attended his church, maintained his usual
routine and ultimately indicated that the stressors had gone away. I accept Dr
Beech’s opinion that there was a period of time where there was a risk of him
contravening the supervision order but that period of time passed. He was able to
use his strategies to distract himself and did not drink and did not approach anyone
for the purposes of sex. By 19 February 2014 not only had Mr Downs not breached
his supervision order but he was not at that point in time “likely” to contravene it.
[38] Whilst there might have been some evidence for an officer to have a ‘reasonable
suspicion” as required by s 20 I am not satisfied that the requirements of s 22 have
been satisfied and there is no basis therefore for making further orders.
[39] The application for further orders pursuant to s 22 should be dismissed. There is no
doubt however that the supervision order put in place on 7 May 2008 should
continue for the period of 15 years of the original order.
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2014/140