Reading that article that sentence sounds reasonable.
Programmes are generally the best option but with the right practitioner can be done successfully on a one to one. And often are for various reasons, mental health, employment commitments etc. According to the article it seemed the reason this person was not viewed suitable was because they identified as a woman. And there are no sex offender group programmes for woman. As they'd be sat doing them by themselves. Plus we don't know if the male model of offending in this manner applies to women. Not enough to study I'm guessing.
A lot of us here might think they should do the programme designed for men as they are a man. Personally I feel a man presenting as a woman either due to gender dysphoria or for less genuine reasons would not be suitable. Too disruptive/complex for other members who need their own rehabilitation to prevent creating further victims.
The issue for me is if self Id comes in will it become realised this is a way to dodge programmes? Who knows? Self Id is a Pandora's box in this sense, in terms of women's safe spaces, women's sport & in terms of crime. Yet women aren't allowed to talk about it. Apparently.