Alleged home invader appears in court

Detectives want to hear from anyone who saw a tall cyclist around Victoria Ave and Waimea Lane between 4am and 5am on Thursday. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A 19-year-old Auckland girl who was tied up and robbed by an armed intruder who broke into her bedroom was in court today to see the man accused of causing her a living nightmare.

Shane Victor Hughes, 35, is alleged to have broken into the Victoria Ave, Remuera, house where a family slept early on Thursday morning.

He was arrested today and charged with kidnapping, indecent assault, possession of a knife and hammer, possession of methamphetamine, possession of three glass methamphetamine pipes and two bongs for smoking cannabis.

He is also alleged to have stolen a camera, laptop computer and jewellery valued at about $4000.

He did not apply for bail when he appeared in Auckland District Court before a community magistrate this afternoon.

The girl and her family sat in the public gallery when Hughes appeared in the dock. He did not look at them.

Speaking outside the court, the girl's mother said seeing him was a way for her daughter to confront her fears.

"She described him as being two metres tall and you can tell that he's nowhere near that. So I guess when you're confined and somebody's's standing over you they do look like they're huge, which he's not.

"The guy is not a faceless person out there, he's now someone who looks as ugly as he behaves.''

The woman said her daughter was "not good'' after her ordeal, which she said lasted for up to 30 minutes.

"It's the stuff that nightmares are made of and she has certainly lived one now. But we're very lucky, it could have been an awful lot worse.''

Hughes was remanded in custody until October 17 when he will have a plea enquiry hearing.