Internet date leads to sex assault charge

Police are warning about the dangers of internet dating after a complaint of sexual assault in Hamilton over the weekend.

A 41-year-old man appeared in Hamilton District Court today relating to the alleged sexual assault of a woman in her home early Saturday morning. The man and woman met on the internet.

He is accused of sexual assault and possessing the drug hypnovel, which is used for the short term treatment of insomnia.

The man was granted name suppression and released on bail to reappear in court later this month.

Waikato Police acting crime services manager Detective Inspector Greg Nicholls said the offender and victim connected via the internet last November and had been in contact by phone, text and email but had not previously met in person.

"They had plans to meet on Friday night which fell through, however subsequent to that we believe the man has gone to the woman's home where she became the victim of a sexual assault."

Mr Nicholls said police urged people to take care when meeting with someone they had met over the internet, including meeting in a public place and telling someone where they were going.

A German tourist made headlines last month after travelling to New Zealand to stay with a Dunedin man she had met on the internet.

The woman, 36, struck up an online friendship with a man she believed was a 33-year-old PhD student from Dunedin in October.

When she arrived on February 8, she realised the unkempt, unemployed 54-year-old had lied about his identity.

She went to his house, where chickens lived inside among cartons and rubbish, and there was no electricity.

When he refused to let her leave the house on her own or take her passport, she contacted a person she had met on her plane, who called police.

The Armed Offender Squad were called while the pair were in Kaikoura, but she was later rescued by police.

The man would not be prosecuted, police said.

- NZPA and NEWSTALK ZB