Police warn public about released sex offender
(High risk to women and young boys)
David Carrigg, The Province
Published: Thursday, September 13, 2007

Vancouver police fear a recently released sex offender will seduce women and not tell them he has human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis.

"The fear is him striking up relationships and having sex and not letting his partner know he's HIV-positive with hep C," said Const. Tim Fanning of the Vancouver police.

Alwin Colin Benson, 46, is currently living in a Vancouver halfway house after being released on bail following a sexual-assault charge. The alleged assault occurred in March this year in Vancouver and involved a woman with whom Benson was in an intimate relationship, Fanning said. Benson did not tell the woman he has HIV -- the virus linked to AIDS -- and hepatitis C.

Fanning said he was contacted yesterday by the Vancouver police high-risk offender squad because they feared Benson could infect women with the sexually transmitted diseases.

Benson has been jailed previously for serious sexual assault involving boys.

He is aboriginal, six feet tall, weighs 215 pounds and has short dark brown hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

Benson's bail conditions include that he report all relationships with females to his parole supervisor, not drink alcohol, possess weapons or contact anyone under 18 years of age.

dcarrigg@png.canwest.com