The Christchurch Civic Creche Case
	News Reports Index
	1999 July-Dec
	The Evening Post December 17 1999 Ellis faces tough terms if he accepts parole Convicted child abuser Peter Ellis has been set special conditions for the first year after his release next February. The Parole Board says the conditions were aimed at protecting the public or any person who might be affected by Ellis' release, and to help his rehabilitation and welfare. The special terms were to live at a specified address, not to contact the victims or their families without the written consent of his probation officer, and not to do any paid or voluntary work without the officer's approval. Ellis, 40, must be released when he has served two-thirds of his 10-year sentence on February 2. He was jailed in 1993, after a Christchurch jury accepted numerous allegations of child abuse made against him during the time he worked at Christchurch Civic Creche. Ellis has continued to say he is innocent. Appeals have failed to overturn his convictions but Ellis and his supporters are still seeking a royal commission of inquiry into his case, and a pardon from the Governor-General. The Parole Board sets conditions for the first 12 months of an offender's release. Ellis has said through his lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, that he won't sign release documents if they imply he was properly convicted. It's not clear what effect Ellis' intention will have. The Parole Board says it won't discuss details of any inmate's parole decision but wants the public to better understand the parole process. "The parole process aims to ensure that an offender's reintegration to the community is a planned process, under supervision, with support and parole conditions to minimise any risk of future offending," a statement from the board said. Standard release conditions that apply to Ellis' include restrictions such as reporting to a probation officer, advising the officer of any change of address or workplace, but in Ellis' case the board also set special conditions.