TV sting carpet cleaner back in court

A cleaner commits an indecent act in a customers home as captured by the TV3 programme Target Photo/ TV3

A carpet cleaner caught on camera apparently doing lewd acts at a woman's house will keep his name secret - at least for the rest of the week.

Judge Anna Johns heard arguments from the man's lawyer Nicole Smith and police lawyer Harvena Hudson at Manukau District Court today.

The man, whose interim name suppression was continued, was captured by hidden cameras in a sting by TV3`s Target programme in May.

He earlier pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and wilfully accessing a computer.

Ms Smith said her arguments were supported by a psychiatric report but the contents were not revealed in court.

Ms Hudson said the starting point had to be open reporting. She said that despite the man losing his job, suspicion had fallen on other carpet cleaners and that was not fair.

"Publication may help to prevent further offending by others.''

Judge Johns said she had been provided with so much material that she could not make a decision this afternoon.

"This documentation has come far too late,'' she told Ms Smith.

Judge Johns adjourned sentencing until Friday.

The man was arrested after footage was broadcast on national television in May showing him apparently rifling through drawers of a Target television actress posing as a customer after he was called to her house to clean the carpets.

He appeared to look at photos and repeatedly touch and sniff the underwear he found in her laundry basket.

He was seen walking from room to room, taking soap from the bathroom and looking at more personal items in a spare room before turning on a computer in the living room and connecting to the internet.

He could then be seen kneeling in front of the computer.

The footage attracted over 150,000 views online after it was aired.