Accused 'tried to snatch 2 other children'

A man accused of kidnapping and indecently assaulting a 5-year-old girl is facing fresh charges after he allegedly tried to abduct two other children the day before he snatched the girl on her way to school.

The 18-year-old man, whose name is suppressed, made no plea to two new charges of attempted abduction when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday.

Police allege that he tried to abduct a 6-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy in Tauranga on December 14, the day before the 5-year-old girl was kidnapped while walking with her brother to Maungatapu School, in the east of the city.

The defendant already faced one charge of abduction and four charges of indecent assault after the girl was found in a car with a man in an isolated spot about 15 minutes' drive from the school.

Judge Christopher Harding remanded the defendant in custody for a predepositions hearing on January 31. The man made no request for bail, despite earlier pleas to be released.

His lawyer, Tony Balme, sought continued name suppression for his client until the predepositions hearing.

Mr Balme said it was necessary to ensure "nothing is done to taint his [client's] right to a fair trial".

Judge Harding said he was prepared to extend the suppression order until January 31, but it would expire on that date in the absence of full and formal arguments from the lawyer.

The girl's family were in court for the appearance.

Her mother told the Herald that her daughter was on holiday with her father and would begin counselling when school resumed.