Kidnap accused named after brief suppression

A man charged with the kidnap of one student and the attempted kidnap of another has been named.

Philip Michael Foss, 25, of Mt Albert, stood quietly in the dock earlier today, eyes staring ahead, as Judge Ray Keane discussed whether or not to grant the man interim name suppression as requested by his lawyer Sanjay Patel.

Judge Keane made the unusual order for the man's name to be suppressed for just three hours, until 3.30pm today, after Mr Patel said the man had a mother in Auckland and a father in Napier and five siblings who needed to be told of his arrest.

The man was arrested by police last night. Officers have said a blanket with a lion on it was instrumental in capturing him.

The man is charged with attempting to kidnap a 17-year-old girl and the kidnap of a 14 year-old girl. Both girls are students at Western Springs College in Auckland.

Judge Keane, sitting at the Auckland District Court, said the case was one of high public interest.

He directed the man's name be suppressed until 3.30 this afternoon, asking Mr Patel to help him get to a phone to tell his family of his arrest.