National Law & Order spokesman 14 June 2004

Child sex abuser should not get bail

Habitual offenders like Peter Liddell should not be let out on bail, says National's Law and Order spokesman, Tony Ryall.

He is commenting on an appearance in the High Court at Auckland by Peter Douglas Liddell, 58, who has 17 convictions for sex crimes stretching over 20 years. He pleaded guilty to sexually violating a 15-year-old boy in 2002.

Liddell was granted bail till August so he could look after his sick mother.

John McCarthy, director of the Safe Treatment Programme for sexual offenders, says Liddell poses a high risk to children.

Mr Ryall says: "Criminals with long records of reoffending have surely surrendered their rights to bail.

"The public will have severe doubts about the ability of authorities to monitor Liddell and prevent reoffending in the weeks leading up to his sentencing.

"This is another example of why we need to change the bail laws to stop repeat offenders and protect the community," Mr Ryall says.

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