High-risk sex offender expected to live in Winnipeg after release

Winnipeg police are warning the public about the release of a sex offender who is considered ahigh risk to reoffend against young girls.

William Rupert Astle, 82, was released from the Winnipeg Remand Centre on Thursday. Police expect he'll live in Winnipeg.

Astlewas arrested in October for failing to abide by the conditions of his parole, just over a month after he was released from Stony Mountain Institution. He had been sentenced to four yearsfor indecent exposure to a person under 16 years of ageand failure to comply with a probation order.

He's subject to bail conditions and two lifetime orders prohibiting him from going to public parks,daycare centres, school grounds, playgrounds, community centres or swimming areas where people under 16 could be present.

Astlehas ahistory of failing to abide by releaseconditions, police said.

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"He has breached the conditions of his release twice during his current period of incarceration.Breaches occurred within days of release," a police news release said.

Astlehas multiple convictions for indecent exposure and assault related to children dating back to1969. He has also been convicted of sexual interference over a 10-year periodfrom 1990 to 2000involving a girl who was known to him.

He was convicted in 2006 for that offence, in addition to three others in which he masturbated in public in the presence of adolescent girls, and served a sentence of one year and nine months before being released.

In 2009, he was convicted again for indecent exposure after exposing himself while watching two young girls playing in a backyard.

Police said the release is being made public to allow people to take suitable measures to protect themselves. Any form of"vigilante activity" or unreasonable conduct toward Astlewill not be tolerated, the release said.

Anyone with information about Astleis asked tocontact the Winnipeg Police Service at204-986-6222, your local RCMP detachmentor Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477or toll free at1-800-222-8477.