Serial swindler Blair Beaumont denied parole

Blair David Beaumont, 38, appeared from Rolleston Prison via audiovisual link before the Parole Board on June 14.

He is serving a three year and seven months’ sentence, for a large number of fraud offences across the South Island.

“The public need protection from you,” the sentencing judge told him in September 2021.

That offending spanned 30 months and involved 39 victims losing about $65,000.

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Those crimes involved fake online sales, or maintenance work that was never completed.

The board noted Beaumont’s ‘’very significant history of similar offending dating to 2002 and has been imprisoned on two previous occasions’’.

‘’Prison has been no deterrent.’’

The report noted the scepticism of the sentencing judge, over Beaumont’s claim of alcohol and gambling issues, while his offer of amends was ‘’hollow, unrealistic, and part of (his) pattern of deceit’’.

That view was supported by the board, which noted Beaumont had recently completed a Medium Intensity Rehabilitation Programme (MIRP) with an acceptable level of engagement.

In addition, Beaumont planned to engage with the Problem Gambling Foundation after his release.

To prepare for his reintegration into the community, he had been accepted to stay at a Christchurch accommodation provider, although those arrangements were several months away.

He had also been working at the prison servery with positive reports, and also trying to reconnect with family members.

A parole assessment report quoted Beaumont as saying he was ‘’80%’’ confident that he would not re-offend, with the board reminded of his previous pattern of reoffending.

Parole was declined.

Beaumont would be seen again by the board at the end of the year.

‘’As we have said to him, we think he would benefit from a period of reintegration, possibly release to work if that is made available to him.’’