Paul Callow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Paul Douglas Callow is a Canadian serial rapist who was convicted of having raped several women in the Toronto area in the mid-1980s. Before his identity became known, he was called the Balcony Rapist.^[1]

One of the women he raped, known by the pseudonym Jane Doe, successfully sued the Toronto police force for not having warned women in her neighbourhood to be careful, even after the Balcony Rapist had already raped four women. The police took the position that if they had publicized the fact that a serial rapist was attacking women in the area, he would have committed his crimes in a different location against other women, making it difficult for the police to apprehend him. In a case filed as Jane Doe v. Board of Commissioners of Police for the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, she won her case and on 1998-07-03 was awarded damages of $220,000 plus interest by the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division).^[2]

The Toronto police had threatened to charge Jane Doe with mischief, because she put up posters in her neighbourhood warning about the Balcony Rapist.^[3]

Callow served the full length of his 20-year sentence in prison; his parole applications had been denied because the National Parole Board considered he was likely to re-offend.^{[citation needed]}

While in prison, Callow was accused by a prison employee of sexual assault.^[4] After this accusation, Callow refused to participate in any treatment programs.^[4]

On February 23, 2007, Callow, then 52 years old, was released from jail in British Columbia. He initially settled in Newton Town Centre in Surrey, British Columbia. At that time police issued a warning to the community which was heavily reported in the news media.^{[citation needed]} Police did not release Callow's precise address. Following a protest in Surrey, Callow moved to New Westminster, British Columbia.^[5] On March 3, 2007 New Westminster had a rally of protest. This is an example of a NIMBY.

It was reported on March 7, 2007 that Callow lives in an emergency shelter in New Westminster, and the only help he receives is a 20-minute daily meeting with a third-year social-work student.^[4] Callow was reported as saying he is "worried about vigilantism".^[4]

When he was sentenced, Callow was not designated a dangerous offender. Concern about his release has led to a proposal by some elected officials from New Westminster for legislative change allowing convicts to be designated dangerous offenders after they have been sentenced, if they exhibit violent behaviour while in jail.^[4]