Claims rapist tampered with GPS

A dangerous sex offender still thinks he should be released on bail, despite allegations he tampered with his GPS monitoring device last week while already facing a charge of breaching his strict supervision order

Murray John Winder, 55, whose record includes rape and child sex offences, was released on a ten-year supervision order by a Perth judge in 2011.

But last week he was arrested and locked up in Carnarvon after he allegedly removed his monitoring bracelet - an offence that carries a mandatory prison sentence if proved.

Police were alerted that Winder's GPS unit had allegedly been tampered with by an automatic alarm.

It is believed to be the first time a dangerous sex offender had been charged with breaching their supervision order by tampering with a GPS tracking device.

Winder was accused of refusing to provide a breath test to authorities, in breach of his supervision order, back in March.

In Perth Magistrates Court today, lawyer Mara Barone said Winder intended to apply for bail despite the multiple charges.

Winder was determined as a dangerous sex offender by Justice John McKechnie, who said he was satisfied the risk of releasing him into the community could be managed by a supervision order, despite him having a mild mental disability.

Justice McKechnie also noted concerns about the "party like atmosphere" in the neighbourhood near where Winder proposed to live - which meant there were numbers of unsupervised children in nearby streets at any one time.

Magistrate Steven Heath said he would need to see a full bail report before he made any judgment, and the case was adjourned until later this month.