Alleged rapist bailed to flat 300m from accuser

Police have apologised to the family of an alleged rape victim after the accused man was bailed to a flat 300 metres from her home.

They say they made a mistake and are trying to change the bail conditions before they take effect tomorrow, the Dominion Post reported.

The 15-year-old girl's mother said that she was stunned and had not yet told her daughter, who would have to walk past the man's flat in Upper Hutt every day on her way to and from school.

The 20-year-old man is charged with sexual violation by rape, sexual violation of a child under 16, and two counts of sexual assault.

The girl's family were in Upper Hutt District Court when the 20-year-old man sought a change of bail address.

The girl's father told the police prosecutor the address was too close to her home, but the prosecutor failed to raise those concerns before the judge and the change of address was granted.

Upper Hutt acting area commander Warwick Burr said usually when people applied to change their bail address, police checked on whether it was acceptable to any alleged victims.

Mr Burr said it appeared in this case the checks had not happened.

He said police would appeal to the man's lawyer to agree to return to court before Friday. If that failed, they would look at what other legal options they had.

- NZPA