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Offender Databases Craig Woolley

Craig Owen Woolley

Alias

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Offences

Raped and threatened to kill a young Christchurch woman in October 2000
Also two convictions for threatening to kill in 1996

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1978

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to six years in November 2000
Reduced to just five years on appeal

Background
From the Christchurch Press November 17th 2000
A man's "momentary loss of control" -- during which he raped a vulnerable young woman -- has landed him with a six-year jail term. Craig Owen Woolley, 22, a salesman, had met the woman, a stranger, while walking home in the early hours of the morning. Both had been drinking significantly and she was upset by an earlier incident. His lawyer, Gerald Nation, said Woolley sought to comfort her and invited her back to his home. Inside, he made a pass at her but was rebuffed and she made to leave. As she did, he threatened to kill her if she did not take off her clothes. He then raped her, but Mr Nation contended that the incident was a short-term loss of control.

"The complainant says there was a complete personality change and it's clear that change was short-lived. Almost as soon as (they had sex) he realised what he was doing, realised it was wrong, stopped, and apologised," he said."Obviously that doesn't change the fact that for a few brief moments he lost control of himself almost completely. Woolley says he abhors violence against women but believes it might be the combination of alcohol and opiates (he took that night) which caused him to be so extreme in his behaviour. "Prosecutor Leah Robertson said the effect on the woman had been profound and seemingly long-term, with her showing signs of post traumatic stress disorder, eating and sleeping problems, a tendency to blame herself, and a general fear of men she did not know.

The complainant was in court during the sentencing. Justice Chisholm, in the High Court in Christchurch, said it was difficult to reconcile Woolley's deeply remorseful attitude when being interviewed on video by the police, and his subsequent minimisation to a probation officer of the seriousness of his actions. He noted that Woolley had no previous convictions for sexual or violent offending other than two convictions for threatening to kill in 1996. "Our law expects women to be safe from this type of offending," His Honour said, sentencing Woolley to six years jail.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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