A serial rapist deemed a high-risk to re-offend has had second thoughts about living in Kelowna.
RCMP announced Thursday night that Andrew Aurie Jefferson — a high-risk serial rapist who terrorized a Calgary neighbourhood for months — would be living in the Lower Mainland suburb of  Mission, not Kelowna.
Jefferson, 26, known as the Falconridge rapist, was released from a federal corrections institution Wednesday. In 2007, he was convicted of attacking three women in 2006 and sentenced to six years in prison.
Police in Kelowna said Thursday at a news conference that he would be coming to the city.  “This public interest notification is made under the Privacy Act of Canada and has been issued in the interest of public safety,” said RCMP Const. Steve Holmes.
But something has since changed Jefferson’s mind.
A number of residents expressed fear and concern when it was announced Jefferson was settling down in the Okanagan.
RCMP describe Jefferson as a Caucasian male, five-foot-nine, weighing 183 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.
“His method of operation is to randomly grab a female from behind who is walking down the street. He threatens to kill the female if she screams and uses a knife during the commission of the sexual offence,” said Holmes.
On Thursday night, police in Mission said they would keep a close eye on him.
He must abide by various court-ordered conditions, including not having contact with any of his victims or any members of their families, advising his probation officer of any close relationship with a woman and refraining from continuing that relationship until she has been advised of his criminal record in the presence of the probation officer.
Jefferson is also not to possess any weapons, use drugs or alcohol.
He has a strict curfew, and must be at home between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.