Benjamin Steven Craig, 34 of Granton, was paroled on November 24 after serving half of his sentence for raping a drunk woman in 2013.

The Rebels bikie was celebrating his birthday at the club’s headquarters in Hobart when he pulled down the woman’s pants and forced himself inside her.

He was found guilty by a jury in May last year and sentenced to three and a half years' jail with a 21-month non-parole period.

During his sentencing the Hobart Supreme Court heard the victim began to self-harm after the 2013 crime, had been hospitalised 50 times a year and nearly died on one occasion. 

Justice Helen Wood said at the time that Craig was “still a relatively young man”.

“He has never been in custody before. I accept that conduct such as this is most unlikely to be repeated,” Justice Wood said.

“He previously dedicated himself to working hard in supporting his partner and her children. He must now live with the destructive consequences of his own criminal behaviour. It has cost him his family and his vocation.”

Sharing its decison, the Parole Board said Craig’s partner and children had left him since his conviction.

“It is noted that his family is close-knit and supportive of him and his accommodation has been assessed as appropriate for him,” the decision read.

“In his application for parole the applicant refers to his remorse for his actions and asserts that he will not seek to excuse nor justify his conduct. The board’s assessment of the applicant is that he does indeed appreciate the significant and negative impact his offending behaviour has had upon his victim.”

The board described Craig as having “significant rehabilitation potential”.

“He has used his custodial sentence to utilise what could be offered to him within the custodial environment in terms of courses directed toward his offending behaviour, further education and employment,” they wrote.

Craig will be on parole until August 24, 2019.