Caleb Bond: Paedophile Gary Tipping repeatedly molested boys and broke the rules of release – and now gets yet another chance to live among us

The release of serial paedophile Gary John Tipping into the community is outrageous, writes Caleb Bond. How many times do you have to disobey the law before you’re deemed too dangerous to release? It seems Gary John Tipping will be cleared to rejoin society, despite breaking the terms put upon him last time he was bestowed such trust. It’s said that cats have nine lives. This cretin must be approaching feline territory, given the number of chances the justice system has accorded him. In September, when first released, I wrote that Tipping did not deserve a second chance. Unfortunately, I was right. This is a man who has repeatedly abused young boys. A man who psychologists have argued is unable to control his urges. He was first sentenced in 2006 for sexual offences against two boys. They were aged eight and 12. His four-year prison sentence was suspended and he walked free. Just months later, he had sex with a 13-year-old boy and was jailed. He was out on parole in December 2010 and again, within months, befriended a 15-year-old boy. Lo and behold, he was taken into custody in September 2012 for having sex with the teenager and later sent to prison – again. Last September, he was given the green light to return to the real world, after which he breached his supervision order by signing up to dating sites and chatrooms where he had explicit exchanges. Tipping does not, to me, sound like the kind of guy who does what he’s told. Now the Supreme Court will let him out again, despite pleas from the Attorney-General to keep him behind bars. I believe his release is a danger to children and the broader community. It certainly was every other time. The disconnect between what most fair-minded people would consider justice and the decision handed down by the court could not be more stark. Justice Kevin Nicholson reasoned that the risk to the public had not increased since Tipping was last released, so there was no reason to keep him locked up this time. Because his behaviour wasn’t any worse than we already knew, he is still somehow safe to be released. It may well make sense legally, but it makes no sense in terms of public safety. People like Tipping should be locked up not just to punish them for their abuse, but to ensure no one else suffers at their hands. We know that when allowed to walk among us, Tipping has made others suffer. We know he has disobeyed the rules put upon him when he has been released. Yet Justice Nicholson, in his judgment, says he expects Tipping would now have a “keen understanding of the fragility of his entitlement to remain in the community”. But he didn’t understand that “fragility” the first time. Or the second time. Or the third. Now we’re giving him a fourth chance. Justice Nicholson, however, says there is “no suggestion that further time in custody would serve to lessen the risk to the community”. You, dear reader, may not be a Supreme Court judge, but I’m sure you can make up your own mind. A paedophile rejoins our world, by decree of our court system – the one designed to protect us. The State Government must ensure people like Tipping are never allowed to roam the streets again.