A convicted child rapist has been deemed too fat for prison – and it’s costing taxpayers $1250 each day he spends in hospital before he can fit in a cell.
Marcus Shane Solomon was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years and four months in prison for historic rape and sex abuse against girls aged between seven and 14 years old in Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island.
Marcus Shane Solomon was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years and four months in prison for historic rape and sex abuse against girls
Solomon appeared in court via an audio visual link from his hospital bed.
Because prisons are unable to provide the medical care he requires, Solomon will stay in hospital until he reached a healthy weight as decided by Judge Tony Zohrab, Stuff reported.
His health had worsened since his trial in February, and he is now ‘virtually immobile’ in Burwood Hospital in Christchurch.
Solomon is reportedly suffering from an infection and back problems due to his obesity.
A Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman said the average bed rate at the hospital is $1250 per day, with specialist care generating an extra cost.
New Zealand Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales said there was a ‘duty of care’ to ensure prisoners received healthcare.
Opposition Corrections spokesman David Bennett said Solomon’s health was ‘entirely of his own making’, and he ‘shouldn’t be allowed to take taxpayers for a ride’.
‘He committed heinous crimes against young women and he allowed himself to get to an unhealthy weight, yet it’s taxpayers who are having to foot the extra cost of him being in hospital rather than prison, which is where he should be,’ Mr Bennett said.
Solomon told a probation officer the allegations against him stemmed from a conflict between himself and the victims’ families.
The offending took place when he was aged between 14 and 22, and happened in the back seat of vehicles and at his home.
One of his victims told police she was abused so many times she lost count.
Because prisons are unable to provide the medical care he requires, Solomon will stay in Burwood Hospital (pictured) until he reached a healthy weight
‘The horror of being sexually abused… is the fact it was such a repetitive, such a continuous thing that happened… how did I survive what happened to me?’ she said.
Solomon was found guilty on seven charges: an indecent act on a girl under 12, three counts of inducing a girl under 12 to do an indecent act, and three counts of sexual violation.
He was also found guilty of two charges of rape and one of kidnapping.