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'Child-sex' accused allowed home bail |
A Napier man accused of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl has been granted electronic bail, despite strong opposition from police and the alleged victim's mother.
| Richard Miller, 45, of Napier, appeared in Napier District Court on a bail hearing yesterday.
He is facing a charge of behaving threateningly, two charges of indecent acts with a girl under 12, two of abducting a girl under 12 for sex, three charges of raping a girl under 12, indecently assaulting a girl over 16, supplying cannabis oil, and two charges of unlawful sexual connection with a girl under 12.
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The charges relate to four separate girls and some of the charges date back to 1990.
Miller was arrested on September 19 after he was seen with a six-year-old girl in a car parked in a Napier park. Police investigated and laid charges.
He has been in custody since September 20.
Miller has pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and producing cannabis oil.
Police opposed bail as they were concerned he would attempt to pressure witnesses and alleged victims out of testifying.
The court was also told Miller's family had sent abusive texts to the mother of one of his alleged victims.
Police prosecutor John Ashfield said the victims' families were very concerned that Miller would be allowed out of custody.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh said Miller's lawyer would find it difficult to organise a defence case if Miller remained at Hawke's Bay Prison.
She felt electronic bail would minimise the risk of further offending and was "a viable alternative to custody".
She granted Miller electronic bail to live at his home in Pirimai, Napier.
He is not allowed to contact the alleged victims or their families, or associate with anyone under 16, and is not allowed to access a computer.
He was remanded in custody to reappear next Wednesday, by which stage his house will have been fitted with electronic bail equipment.
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