Child-sex offender released

A child-sex offender who committed a series of serious sex offences in the Pilbara 10 years ago has been released on a post-sentence supervision order.

On July 21, 2011, Herbert William Mackay was sentenced to 10 years and six months behind bars after violent attacks on a 14-year-old girl in 2010.

Mackay was charged with six counts of sexual penetration of a child, two counts of indecent assault and dealing of a child, one count of a threat to kill and deprivation of liberty.

Facing the Prisons Review Board this month, Mackay, now 44, was placed under a supervision order ahead of his release back into the Pilbara community.

The board determined the order was appropriate because of Mackay’s extensive criminal history including violent and sexual offending.

A psychiatric report assessed he had a high risk of future reoffending in a sexual manner.

Mackay has been subject to six previous community supervision orders, four of which were cancelled or breached.

As part of the supervision order, Mackay is to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with females under 18 years of age. He will also be required to attend random urine analysis for all illicit substances, to not consume alcohol and to not enter licensed premises.

Mackay will also have to attend programs and counselling as directed and will have to notify his community corrections officer of his residential address and not change that address without the approval of the officer.

A person who breaches a supervision order, without a reasonable excuse, faces imprisonment of up to three years.

Mackay, who was 34 at the time of his crime, was arrested by detectives at a bus station in Alice Springs in April 2010.