Child abduction accused named

The 18-year-old youth who sparked a manhunt after a 5-year-old girl was abducted on her way to school on December 15 appeared briefly in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

Name suppression for Tony Douglas Robertson, unemployed, lapsed at the hearing.

Judge Ian Thomas remanded Robertson in custody until February 24, when he will face a preliminary hearing on a number of abduction and sex-related crimes.