Revelations that serial sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson has been out and about in the Whanganui community are very disturbing, says former mayor Michael Laws.
Mr Laws, who has remained outspoken as a district councillor and helped lead a campaign to try to stop Wilson being released last month to live on Whanganui Prison grounds, said it confirmed the council had taken the right action in banning the man dubbed the Beast of Blenheim from the city's parks and reserves.
Wilson, 65, was photographed out fishing and spoke to the Dominion Post, the first time he has talked publicly since his conviction in 1996 on a raft of horrific sex crimes against women and children.
"It's obviously very disturbing he's been out and I agree with those who say he has a substantial risk of reoffending," Mr Laws said.
The trespassing orders had provided a measure of security but concern in the community had not died down.
"We will never accept it", he said.
He is still hopeful Wilson will be recalled to prison under new civil detention legislation intended to keep high-risk offenders in prison.
"He is exactly the kind of person that this legislation is designed for. It's my intention to see this man back behind bars."
Mr Laws said he didn't anticipate any problems in the short term as Wilson was being closely watched. He was more concerned about the medium to long term, when supervision could get slack.
Wilson, who has also been supermarket shopping and claimed two women had waved and said hello to him, has refused to say sorry to his victims.
"Maybe I have inadvertently harmed people with what I've said and the way I've done things," he said.
"Why should I give in to take away my own credibility with any admission of any form of guilt now. I've done the time. You can't put a person in jail and make them do extra years and then tell them to say sorry."
He did offer an apology to the people of Whanganui.
"I'm sorry I've been bundled into your society and I'm sorry I've caused so many problems, but I have no intention of causing anyone any harm at any time," he said. "It wasn't my choice to come here."
Wilson insists he has changed a lot during his years in jail.
"I'm a lot older, I'm a lot slower, I've got a lot more mellow, but I'm still a human being.
"I'm not out to hurt anyone or harm anyone or do anything stupid. I'm not bitter, I'm not twisted and I just want to get on and continue my life with a bit more freedom."
Members of Whanganui District Council, particularly Mr Laws, had been "scaremongering and frightening people" largely because they had been misinformed, he said.
However, it was unlikely he would fight the council bans.
NZN