Daniel Taylor pleads guilty

Daniel Taylor

Kaitaia man Daniel Luke Taylor last week pleaded guilty to nine charges of sexual offending against boys and youths, more than 11 months after he was arrested and remanded in custody.

The 37-year-old accused was to have appeared before the High Court at Whangarei for trial later this month, but entered guilty pleas on Thursday. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on November 14.

The guilty pleas were entered to one count of indecently assaulting a boy under 16 years, six of indecently assaulting a boy aged 12 to 16, one of indecently assaulting a boy over 16 years and one of attempted sexual connection with a boy under 12 years.

Kaitaia detective Mark Dalzell said there been no changes to the prosecution's case, despite the reduction of the original 22 charges to nine. A number of specific accusations had been changed to representative charges, but none had been withdrawn.

Taylor, who had been approved by Child, Youth and Family as a caregiver, twice applied for bail without success, Judge Greg Davis rejecting the first application in the Kaitaia District Court in November, after hearing from the prosecution that the defendant had been preparing to leave for Australia after he learned of the police investigation. Judge Davis said he believed Taylor had been grooming young boys, and that he would present a "real and appreciable'' risk of further offending if he was released from custody.

Judge John McDonald declined an application in the same court in December, after he expressed concerns that Taylor could try to make complainants change their stories.

"On the face of it he deliberately went about gaining the confidence of these families and boys so he could carry out the sexual activity alleged,'' he said.

"He has shown a careful and devious mind. He knows that the case against him substantially relies on the word of six young complainants, and I consider there is still a risk of him trying to get one or more of those complainants to change their story.''

Police prosecutor Duncan Coleman told the court that the offending, which was allegedly committed over a five-year period from 2007, had involved systematic grooming of the victims.

The only indication Taylor ever gave in the Kaitaia District Court regarding his intended pleas was offered by counsel John Munro, who said at the December appearance that his client would deny the charges.