[2020] WASC 149
General information, not legal advice.
Supreme Court of WA
2020-05-08
Quinlan CJ
Original judgment source is linked above.
(This judgment was delivered extemporaneously on 5 May 2020 and has been edited to correct matters of grammar and to include complete references to the evidence.)
Mr Yates, I have listened carefully to the evidence and the lawyers as to whether I should keep you in detention or whether I should release you on another supervision order.
Under the law, I am not allowed to release you on a supervision order unless I think that you will follow the standard conditions of a supervision order. That includes that you will not commit any sexual offences.
In making my decision, I also have to make sure that the community is properly protected. If I don't think the community will be properly protected by a supervision order, I can't make one.
This has been a difficult decision. Not because you have committed any more sexual offences while on supervision. You haven't done that. It is difficult because when you have been released on a supervision order before, you have breached the order by using drugs or alcohol. The best way for the community to be protected is for you to stay away from drugs and alcohol. It is the only way you are going to be able to stay out of prison.
Dr Wynn Owen and Dr Bannister have said good things about you. They have said that you want to settle down and have a good life. That you want to stay away from crime. And that you know what you have to do to stay out of prison and that you want to do it.
Dr Wynn Owen has told me that you find it hard to stay away from drink and drugs because you have been lonely in Perth and you don't have people from your country around you. I realise how difficult that is.
But you have to do it.
I have decided to let you out on a supervision order. I think that you will follow the standard conditions and I think that you will not commit sexual offences and that the community can be protected by having strict conditions on you.
All the people from the Department and from Uniting Care West have worked had to find ways to help you stick to the conditions of an order. They have worked out a plan to help you. You will have counselling and help with daily living.
But you have got to help yourself. You have got to stay away from alcohol yourself, and from doing crime and from putting yourself in risky situations. It depends on you. If you don't do that you will just be back here.
The order will last for 5 years. You won't be able to drink. You will have to wear a GPS. You will be tested for alcohol and drugs. You will have to tell your community corrections officer about anyone you become friends with and do a whole lot of other things to protect the community.
I am also going to make you go to Derbarl Yerrigan, the aboriginal health service, to see if they can give you the medicine to stop you drinking.
But in the end it is up you. You will have to sign the order saying that you will follow all the conditions I am going to make. I'll sign it too.
That's all I need to say to you now. I now have to speak to the lawyers about the conditions and my reasons.
(b) with effect from a specified date, rescind the continuing detention order and make a supervision order (SO).[1]
Respondent's birthday. The respondent is now 43 years of age.
Respondent committed first serious sexual offence (SSO). The offence was committed in Kalgoorlie.
Respondent committed second SSO. The offence was committed in Kalgoorlie the day after his release from custody.
Respondent committed third SSO. The offence was committed near Laverton.
Breach of amended SO by drinking in park with females.
Breach of respondent's SO by consuming methamphetamine.
Breach of respondent's SO by drinking alcohol at home.
Respondent sentenced for breach offences to nine months' imprisonment to commence on 16 May 2018.
Mr Yates will continue his therapeutic counselling sessions with Mr Summerton and the counselling provided by Holyoake with respect to alcohol and drug use. He will also be provided with a mentor, and closely supervised by officers of the Department of Corrective Services. In my view the general effect of these arrangements, coupled with the conditions which I have referred, is such that the risk of Mr Yates committing further sexual offences can be managed to the point where the community is adequately protected.
The first offence was committed between 4 October and 11 October 2016, when he consumed or used cannabis and methamphetamine. The second offence was committed between 11 October and 19 October 2016 by the consumption of cannabis. The third offence was committed on 21 October 2016 when Mr Yates consumed or used amphetamine and methamphetamine. (footnotes omitted)
On 2 November 2017, police located Mr Yates in a park near the corner of Wellington and Pier Streets, Perth. He was in the company of others, including a male and three females of approximately his age. There were containers of alcoholic beverages near the group, and members of the group were observed by police to be drinking from them. Police ascertained that Mr Yates was subject to a supervision order and directed him to submit to a preliminary breath test. That test returned a positive result to alcohol. He was conveyed to Perth police station at 3.45 pm and provided a sample of breath for analysis which returned a positive blood alcohol content result of 0.135%.
Mr Yates' consumption of alcohol constituted a breach of condition 41 of the supervision order.
On 3 November 2017, following Mr Yates' apprehension at the park, the community corrections officer responsible for the supervision of Mr Yates issued him with a Written Lawful Instruction, in terms which directed Mr Yates that:
You are not permitted to attend the park at 324 Wellington Street, PERTH WA 6000.
A map depicting the area which Mr Yates was not to attend was incorporated within the instruction given to Mr Yates by the community corrections officer.
At 8.59 pm on 4 November 2017, the Central Monitoring Station operator monitoring information provided by the GPS monitor that Mr Yates was wearing received an alert indicating that Mr Yates was again at the park near the corner of Wellington and Pier Streets, Perth.
Police attended the park at around 9.45 pm on 4 November 2017 and arrested Mr Yates. By attending the area the subject of the Written Lawful Instruction issued on 3 November 2017, Mr Yates was in breach of condition 4 of the supervision order.
Police attending the park in Wellington Street on the evening of 4 November 2017 noticed that Mr Yates was in company with other people, including several males and a female of approximately his age. Once again police noticed containers of alcoholic beverages near the group, and members of the group were observed to be drinking from them. CCTV footage of the scene showed that Mr Yates was consuming alcohol, in the form of beer. Police directed Mr Yates to submit to a preliminary breath test which returned a positive blood alcohol content result of 0.199%. Mr Yates' consumption of alcohol was another breach of condition 41 of the supervision order.
Mr Yates had also been given a written instruction to remain in his residence between 7 pm and 7 am unless otherwise directed by a community corrections officer. As there was no direction permitting Mr Yates to leave his residence on the evening of 4 November 2017, his presence at the park in Wellington Street on that evening constituted a breach of conditions 4 and 33 of the supervision order.
Perth 25671/2018.
On 16 May at 6.30 pm, the police attended your home to conduct an unannounced home visit. Police directed you to undergo a random preliminary breath test. It returned a positive result to alcohol. There was a woman present at your home. You had not been given permission to have her in your home. No sexual contact occurred between the two of you. You told the police you did not intend to have any sexual contact with her that evening.
You were taken by the police to the Perth Police Station, where you provided a sample of breath for analysis. You had a blood alcohol content of 0.039%. You declined to participate in an interview, and you provided no excuse for drinking alcohol. Your consumption of alcohol was in breach of condition 41 of your supervision order.
Perth 25870/2018.
On 11 May 2018, you were directed by your community corrections officer to provide a sample of urine for analysis. At 12.45 pm, you provided the required sample. It was sent to PathWest for analysis.
On 17 May 2018, the test results gave a positive reading to amphetamine with a concentration of 1,293 micrograms per litre, as well as a positive reading for methylamphetamine with a concentration being greater than 5,000 micrograms per litre. Your previous test result in relation to a sample you provided on 9 May 2018 was negative to any illicit substance or drug.
In those circumstances, you admit using an illicit substance namely, methylamphetamine (it may have contained amphetamine, as well) on one occasion between 9 and 11 May 2018. I note that means that you used illicit drugs only two-four days after you were released on the supervision order. Your use of the illicit drugs was in breach of condition 32 of the order. You declined to comment about the positive reading.
(1) On a review of a person's detention under section 31 -
(a) if the court does not find that the person remains a serious danger to the community it must rescind the continuing detention order; or
(b) if the court finds that the person remains a serious danger to the community it must -
(i) affirm the continuing detention order; or
(ii) with effect from a date specified by the court, but not earlier than 21 days after the day on which the review is concluded, rescind the continuing detention order and make a supervision order in relation to the person.
[(2) deleted]
(3) Subject to subsection (4), in making a decision under subsection (1)(b), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.
(4) A court cannot make an order under subsection (1)(b)(ii) unless it is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the person will substantially comply with the standard conditions of the order.
(5) The onus of proof as to the matter described in subsection (4) is on the person.
(a) report to a community corrections officer at the place, and within the time, stated in the order and advise the officer of the person's current name and address; and
(b) report to, and receive visits from, a community corrections officer as directed by the court; and
(c) notify a community corrections officer of every change of the person's name, place of residence, or place of employment at least 2 days before the change happens; and
(d) be under the supervision of a community corrections officer, which includes, comply with any reasonable direction of the officer (including a direction for the purposes of section 19A or 19B); and
(e) not leave, or stay out of, the State of Western Australia without the permission of a community corrections officer; and
(f) not commit a sexual offence as defined in the Evidence Act 1906 section 36A during the period of the order; and
(g) be subject to electronic monitoring under section 19A.
(1) Section [33(4)] effects a reversal of the burden of proof that ordinarily applies under the Act by virtue of s 40, which deems proceedings under the Act to be criminal proceedings.
(2) As the respondent has the legal burden of establishing that he will substantially comply with the standard conditions of the supervision order, he also has the evidential burden.
(3) However, in deciding whether the burden has been discharged, the court must have regard to all relevant and admissible evidence adduced in the proceedings.
(4) The evidence adduced by the applicant may form part or all of the evidence on which the respondent relies to establish that he will substantially comply. This is in a context in which statements made by a respondent to medical and other professionals are routinely taken into account in proceedings under the Act as evidence of the respondent's state of mind, including his attitudes, beliefs and intentions, without the need for the respondent to give direct evidence about such matters, by virtue of s 42(4), which modifies the ordinary rules of evidence which would otherwise apply.
(5) Therefore, it may not be necessary for the respondent to give evidence concerning his attitudes or intentions in order to prove that he would substantially comply with the standard conditions. The need for him to do so will depend on what other evidence there is from which the court can draw a conclusion about that issue.
(a) treatment progress report of Mr Steve Jobson, Contract Psychologist, dated 20 January 2018;
(b) treatment progress report of Ms Tania Wilson-Brown, Senior Counselling Psychologist, dated 20 August 2018;
(c) treatment progress report by Dr Ben Bannister, Forensic Psychologist, dated 3 February 2020;
(d) report of Dr Peter Wynn Owen, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, dated 27 December 2017;
(e) report of Dr Wynn Owen, dated 3 September 2018;
(f) report of Dr Wynn Owen, dated 18 February 2020; and
(g) report of Mr Kyle Jarvie, Senior Community Corrections Officer dated 21 February 2020.
Mr Yates sexual offending and much of his violent general offending is strongly associated with the risk factor problems with substance abuse. Substance abuse is a recognised risk factor increasing the risk of both violent and sexual offending.
On the basis of this assessment I am of the opinion that Mr Yates presents a high risk of future sexual offending. This risk estimate is derived from clinical assessment, consideration of the Static-99R and RSVP findings and his recent history of placing himself in high-risk situations when in the community.
Although Mr Yates has breached the SO conditions he has not committed a sexual offence while on the SO. His breaches of SO have been related to loneliness and isolation in a metropolitan Perth setting, limited coping skills and a now stereotyped pattern of coping in Perth which involves association with people with whom he feels kinship, substance use in that context, and seeking to meet intimacy needs through ad hoc contact with women he meets in a manner at odds with order conditions designed to address high risk situations.
Mr Yates current plans for release are no different to when previously released to SO and the proposed accommodation in metropolitan Perth will be associated with the same likelihood of rapid onset of loneliness and isolation. Unless the external inputs are varied through provision of additional support time, and assertively provided (ie facilitating connections with mentor, Wungening etc rather than expecting Mr Yates to do this) he is likely to breach his order conditions imminently, potentially within days to weeks of release.
(a) ongoing individual counselling to assist community reintegration and manage risk;
(c) regular and random testing for drugs and alcohol;
(d) if Mr Yates is agreeable, a trial of Antabuse, used to manage alcohol dependence and the associated symptoms of alcohol consumption by making alcohol consumption extremely unpleasant;
(e) engagement with Wungening Alcohol and other drug support services;
(f) appointment of an appropriate indigenous Australian mentor; and
(g) Consideration to be given to release elsewhere than the metropolitan area.
As suggested in 2018 a different and proactive management approach, ideally in regional Western Australia, will be needed to reduce the likelihood of Mr Yates continuing to breach supervision conditions, as these breaches appear to be largely a result of his social and cultural isolation and limited exposure to metropolitan settings and society.
If Mr Yates is to be released again to reside in metropolitan Perth and no external funding is available to provide supports other than the CCO and forensic psychologist consideration should be given by the WA Department of Justice to funding these supports (ie a mentor and any medications he requires) as the cost is likely to be significantly less than the cost of long term imprisonment and there will be a greater chance of successful community reintegration.
What I'm suggesting is that for quite a period of time, at least for the first few months, that Mr Yates should be supported in attending things, supported in engaging with services. And that support is not just saying 'this is the contact person', but it's actually going with him to things. Going with him, with somebody that he knows already that enables the connection to be made and then continuing some of that ongoing, mutual contact. It's helping him to attend appointments by prompting him, it is having regular face to face contact with him. Now, these are the type of things which I understand UCW can potentially provide and I think, with UCW, with Wungening who in addition to substance abuse, apparently, through Mr Jarvie out here, will be able to offer somewhat more than just that. These are the sort of things which I'm talking about. But the proactive or assertive means that the supervision and monitoring team - the group of people across the agencies - work together on his behalf, not by just passively saying 'this is what you've got to do and this is the instruction you must adhere to', but taking him to things, being with him at things and working through things with him.
overall, there needs to be a recognition that a more hands on approach may well not only mitigate risk, but enable Mr Yates, himself, to develop a more pro-social network within the community whilst he is living in Perth, in that sort of dislocated, off country scene.
[W]hat happened last time when he was released for a very short period of time it appeared that the first few days not a lot occurred and I think we can learn from that. I think even though his first two days what - what contacts are being made with Mr Yates. What has been set up for him? How much of that is set up before he even leaves prison so that the - there's almost a diary, a timetable of when he will meet with so and so, 'Then we will go and do this,' etcetera, to see if those connections can be made early on.
So having a full calendar in the first couple of weeks, which aren't just punitive or monitoring appointments but supportive - - -?---Absolutely.
--- friendly, positive appointments?---Yes.
In terms of - that's going to be more likely to alleviate the immediate stress?---I believe it is. I mean, it - not too much because, again, that can be stressful but I think it would potentially alleviate the stressors, would provide a greater degree of structure and the structure would then transition from immediate secure setting into the community.
So in terms of not just having the good will that Mr Jarvie might have had to identify places, the actual implementation of carrying it out in terms of assisting him to make those appointments?---Yes.
You indicated in terms of there are proposals such as the out centre, that he should be supported to do that. You spoke about travelling with him?---Yes.
So, to break down any barrier of unfamiliarity that might come simply from having to locate and meet or arrive at a new location; is that right?---Barriers of unfamiliarity, sources of stress, distraction. Many of those things could be potentially obviated by actually going with. And, at the same time is the potential then to model pro-social interactions and to engage with - Mr Yates with other appropriate people.
Well, it's certainly a positive generally simply because it means that he's more likely to take responsibility for his own actions with an increased degree of accountability.
And that there is no further treatment goals in custody that Mr Yates and Mr Summerton can collectively try and achieve; is that correct?---Correct.
Other than the re-rehearsing of the same things?---Yes, which is always challenging when you're relying solely on abstract.
... Is there a risk that if it simply is required to be the re-rehearsing for years, that it loses its currency or its value?---Absolutely.
What are those risks?---Well, the risks are that unless there is the capacity to practice what has been learnt or apply what has been practiced, that, again, relying solely on abstractness, particularly with someone like Mr Yates, it will just, yes, lose its - - -
Effectiveness?---Yes, effectively. Yes.
Sorry to cut in, but that would be the appropriate word?---Yes, I think so.
So in terms of where Mr Summerton can take Mr Yates, it's about being as best internally prepared to take up the support and supervision that's to be provided?---Yes, and also once he is in the community, to be there to talk through things as they occur.
And so secondly to have the developed rapport that Mr Summerton is someone who can be leaned upon to provide support and to provide a sounding board and discussions?---Yes, exactly.
And then continued to provide feedback in respect of how the learning in actual doing is going?---Yes.
That's the second integral part; correct?---Correct.
The treatment regime from community to custody?---Yes.
If that be the case, is it accurate to say that Mr Summerton and Mr Yates - Mr Yates is in the best possible position to make the next step psychologically?---Yes.
Adjournment of review for the preparation of a draft management plan
(a) the membership of the Risk Management Team, to meet on a fortnightly basis (with the opportunity for consultation outside these times);
(b) the identity of Mr Yates' proposed senior counselling psychologist, and the frequency of their meetings;
(c) the identity of Mr Yates' proposed Uniting Care West case worker, with whom Mr Yates has worked before and with whom he would have contact prior to any release;
(d) the identity of Mr Yates' proposed substance use counsellor and the frequency of their counselling sessions. This was also the person who had previously worked with Mr Yates (see [86] above);
(e) details of attempts to identify a suitable indigenous mentor; and
(f) details of discussion with Mr Yates' family including his sister and his brother, Clinton Yates.
[First day of supervision]
0800hrs - 1030 hrs
1230hrs - 1530hrs
UCW would facilitate the following with Mr Yates:
***Potential for attendance and access to local pharmacy during the day in order to obtain and take Antabuse medication if deemed appropriate/Ordered by the Court.
1800hrs
[Second day of supervision]
0600hrs
0945hrs - 1345hrs
UCW would facilitate the following with Mr Yates:
***Potential for attendance and access to local pharmacy during the day in order to obtain and take Antabuse medication if deemed appropriate/Ordered by the Court.
1800hrs
This plan includes a scheduled time for video contact with his family and the attendance at a Pharmacy to take Antabuse (if required), which was not previously in place. Engagement with the SCCO, UCW, SOMS and substance abuse counselling were all previously in place, however the plan sets a scheduled time for the appointments in advance. The structure of UCW's proposed engagement is different. When Mr Yates was last in the community, UCW saw him on more of an 'as needed' basis, which at the time equalled approximately a few hours each day when he was released. UCW stated that in this plan before the Court, the contact is more structured and will occur on two set days each week, with allocated contact hours.
(1) reporting to a CCO as directed and advising the officer of his current name and address;
(2) reporting to and receiving visits from a CCO as directed;
(3) notifying a CCO of any change in his name, place of residence or place of employment;
(4) not to leave or stay out of Western Australia without the permission of a CCO; and
(5) be subject to electronic monitoring under s 19A of the Act.
To disclose and provide details of your activities, movements and the associations you come into contact with in the community, when requested by your CCO or Police.
To disclose and provide reasonable details of your activities, movements and the associations you come into contact with in the community, when reasonably requested by your CCO.
To consult with Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service as soon as practicable for assessment as to your suitability for subsidised access to Antabuse medication.
('Contact' under this condition and the following two conditions means any form of interaction or communication whether by word, gesture, expression or touch and whether in person, in writing, by telephonic or electronic means, but does not include the bare minimum interaction or communication necessary between an adult and child to promptly and civilly terminate any inadvertent or uninvited interaction or communication).
I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Principal Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Quinlan
[2] See Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [2017] WASC 250 [72], The State of Western Australia v Yates [2018] WASCSR 86 and The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASCSR 3.
[3] See Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [2014] WASC 136 (Martin CJ); Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 2] [2015] WASC 201 (Martin CJ); Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [2016] WASC 213 (Martin CJ); Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [2017] WASC 250 (Martin CJ); Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [2018] WASC 160 (Martin CJ); The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASC 63 (Jenkins J).
[4] This table is adapted from that included by Jenkins J in her decision in The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASC 63, [15].
[5] See Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [2016] WASC 213 [120] (Martin CJ).
[6] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [2017] WASC 250.
[7] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [2017] WASC 250 [6].
[8] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 4] [2017] WASC 250 [8].
[9] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [2018] WASC 160.
[10] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 5] [2018] WASC 160 [7] - [13].
[11] The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASCSR 3 [5] - [9].
[13] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Hart [2019] WASC 4 [20] (Fiannaca J). His Honour's remarks were made in relation to relevantly identical provisions in s 23 of the Act.
[14] The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASC 63 [15] (Jenkins J).
[19] Ts (6 March 2020) 989. See also ts (6 March 2020) 1005.
[21] Ts (6 March 2020) 1002 - 1003. See also ts (6 March 2020) 1014.
[24] Ts (6 March 2020) 1033 (see also exhibit 5).
[36] The State of Western Australia v Rao [2019] WASC 93, [28] - [29] (Quinlan CJ).
[37] The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASC 63.
[38] The State of Western Australia v Yates [2019] WASC 63, [183] (Jenkins J).
[39] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Yates [No 3] [2016] WASC 213, [119] (Martin CJ).
[42] See e.g. Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 (WA), s 26(1)(e), (fa).