Paul Ronald Goldsmith, 65, was sentenced to six-and-a- half years' jail in late 2005 for a string of sex crimes committed between 1976 and 1987 against boys aged between 13 and 16.

At the time of his sentencing, the Supreme Court heard the Shearwater man had used his coaching position at Marist College and his involvement with numerous youth groups to access and groom his victims.

He also trained as a priest, but was never ordained.

The court heard Goldsmith's "open home policy" gave child visitors unlimited access to alcohol and cigarettes and included strip poker sessions that ended in masturbation and oral sex once the boys and Goldsmith were naked.

His lawyer told the court that Goldsmith had been aware of his sexual interest in young boys since he was 15, but had "resisted" for many years before the coaching job "forced him to give in to his attraction".

Goldsmith would give one of his victims regular "rub- downs" after training and sexually assaulted another on six different occasions.

In total, he was convicted on 36 counts of indecent assault, four counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person under 17, one count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a young person.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, one victim's father admitted he had considered cutting off Goldsmith's genitals.

"Quite often of a night I would put my knife in my pocket, and a couple of times I went to his driveway - I was going to castrate him," he said.

Outside the court, another victim said he had contemplated suicide and described "intense hatred" for his abuser.

"He made me feel so guilty so I wouldn't say anything," he said.

The Parole Board said it had taken several factors into account before granting Goldsmith's release, including his own written submission, references, his "exemplary" prison record and a written report from prison sex offender program New Directions.

His victims provided the Parole Board with statements detailing the horrific and ongoing impact of the abuse, and requested that he be prevented from contacting them.

The board granted the request and further ordered that Goldsmith have no contact with anyone under the age of 17 "without appropriate supervision" during his parole period - which ends in June 2012.