State of New South Wales v Keech

The case of State of New South Wales v Keech involved the State of New South Wales seeking an extended supervision order for the defendant, Keech, under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW). Keech, a high-risk sex offender, had a significant history of sexual offences and a poor record of compliance with the conditions of his conditional liberty. The court held a final hearing to determine whether an extended supervision order for five years was appropriate to mitigate the risk of Keech committing further sexual offences.

The central legal issues addressed by the court were whether Keech posed an ongoing risk of committing sexual offences and whether an extended supervision order was a necessary and appropriate measure to manage that risk. The court had to consider the evidence of Keech's past offending, his compliance history, and expert assessments regarding his risk level and potential for rehabilitation.

In its judgment, the court found that Keech's history of sexual offending and his poor compliance with conditional liberty requirements demonstrated a significant ongoing risk of reoffending. The court also accepted expert evidence that indicated Keech was likely to reoffend without appropriate supervision. Based on these findings, the court concluded that an extended supervision order for five years was necessary and appropriate to ensure public safety and manage Keech's risk. The court determined that this measure would provide sufficient oversight and support to reduce the likelihood of Keech committing further sexual offences.

The court ordered that an extended supervision order be made for Keech for a period of five years. This order included specific conditions designed to monitor and manage Keech's behaviour and risk factors, aiming to prevent future sexual offending and protect the community.