Name suppression for Napier man with thousands of child images | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Name suppression has been granted to a 33-year-old Napier man facing a raft of indecency charges after police found thousands of images of local children on his computer.

The unemployed Onekawa man appeared before Judge Geoff Rea in Napier District Court facing six charges of doing an indecent act.

His arrest came early this morning after police were tipped off by the public to a potential sighting of the man, who had been seen taking photos while driving past schools on a number of occasions in the past few weeks.

On both prior occasions he was reported to have been in a silver car.

Police found the man in his car at the Maadi Rd, Onekawa, shops shortly after 8.30am and had to use pepper spray after he became aggressive. A camera was found in his possession.

Detective Sergeant Tim Smith said police searched the man's home shortly after his arrest and found around 1200 images of young girls and mothers walking babies on a USB stick as well as "objectionable" material on CDs and DVDs.

It appears the photos were taken locally as well as in Taupo said Mr Smith.

In court his assigned counsel Michael McAleer sought a remand without plea and said he would not be opposing bail.

He also asked for name suppression to be granted so the man could "inform his family and his girlfriend" about the charges.

Judge Rea granted an interim order which would run out on the morning of his next appearance and remanded the man in custody until that date.

He is due to reappear before the court in March.